Category Archives: International Journal of Environmental Studies and Safety Research 2017

Preservation of Cultural Heritage through the Application of Architectural Strategies in Museum Designs

Samuel Bello Sayo¹, Joy Joshua Maina², Musa Lawal Sagada³   

Department of Architecture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Email: sbswax5@gmail.com, jjmaina@abu.edu.ng, msagada@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Despite the influence of technology in every aspect of human endeavour which has in some cases resulted to the homogeneity and mediocrity of a people’s cultural identity and heritage, there are still regions that have resisted its full impact, enabling them to preserve and sustain their culture mostly through their architecture. Gidan Makama Museum happens to be a museum of traditional architectural excellence that is situated in the city of Kano and it housing in it and on it the various expressions of the diverse and enormous cultural heritage of the Hausa people. This paper identified these features and the architectural strategies that were employed to express and represent the cultural heritage of the Hausa traditional culture of the Kano people in the museum buildings. The study was based on visual survey and descriptive analysis. Findings from the visual survey shows that museum buildings can excellently expressed and preserve the cultural features and heritage of a people irrespective of their customs or location. The study however concluded that the application of architectural strategies in preserving cultural heritage is of great significance to a people and their region, because it makes their built environment have their sense of place, enabling them break away from homogeneity for the sake of posterity.

Keywords: Architectural strategies; Cultural heritage; Preservation; Gidan Makama Museum

Architectural Features for Cultural Sustainability in the Redevelopment of Gombe Urban Market, Nigeria

Haruna Yakubu Shinga, Joshua Joy Maina and Musa Lawal Sagada

Department of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Designs

 Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna state, Nigeria

                                            Email: yhshinga@gmail.com

 

ABSTRACT

Marketplaces are attributed to constituents such as the people, spaces, and unique products. It is a cultural place where the glimpse of local lifestyle evolves daily and also grounds where buyers interact with sellers and bargaining services. This is in contrast to the shopping centres and supermarkets where the prices of goods and services are fixed. This paper examines the architectural features of an urban marketplace (spatial layouts) through its spaces and cultural heritage of Gombe urban market. This was done through purposive selection of three cases; Gombe, Yola (Jimeta) and Bauchi Central Markets all in the North-East geo-political zone of Nigeria. A survey of the structured interview was conducted in the study area from well-informed vendors, stakeholders, and checklists across the three cases. The findings reveal the partial reflection of contemporary urban market features that can sustain a culture in the design of the selected markets. A significant finding is that more than half of Gombe urban marketplace was not formally built and hence, no emphasis on spatial plans. Therefore, the design and planning can be said to have been deserted, and the study concludes that the spaces for cultural participation and the selling of traditional products should be integrated into the redevelopment of Gombe urban market such that the market remains unique and sustains its culture.

Keywords: Cultural Sustainability, Features of Architecture, Gombe Urban Market

Perceived causes of Building Collapse in Nigeria: Liabilities and Sanctions

            Livinus Liamkondo Ater ¹  &Benjamin Shima Nyam ²

                                                ¹Department of Building Technology,

            Akawe Torkula College of Advanced and Professional Studies, Makurdi

²Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Benue State University Makurdi

ABSTRACT

Nigeria has witnessed many cases of building collapse in the last ten years. Precisely, thirty two cases were reviewed in this work. On the spot assessment and report from the professionals who visit the collapse sites revealed that in 2006 alone about seven buildings collapsed in Nigeria killing about 65 people. In the year 2007, two buildings collapsed killing several people but the number was not disclosed. In 2008, four cases of building collapse occurred killing twenty people. In 2009, three cases of building collapse were reported killing several people, in 2010, four cases of building collapse was reported killing 32 people. In 2011, three cases of building collapse occurred killing 105 people. In 2012, five cases of building collapse occurred killing several people the exact number was not disclosed. In 2013, five cases of building collapse were reported killing 25 people and several other numbers not disclosed. In 2014, a case was reported killing 116 people and also a case was reported in 2015. Most of the collapsed of these buildings were caused by structural failure, use of substandard building materials and poor workmanship. Yet not very many people held responsible and sanctioned. This paper therefore concludes that professionals and building contractors whose building collapse should be sanctioned. The NBC 2006 bill should be passed by the National Assembly giving it the power of enforcement.

Keywords: Building collapses, Liabilities, Sanctions, Nigeria.

Reducing the Operational Energy Demand in Shopping Malls Buildings within Abuja, through Passive Design Approach

David L. Pogu¹, Dr. A.J. Ango²

Department of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Design

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

Email: pogudave@gmail.com, aaronango@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Buildings are responsible for at least 40% of energy used in most countries. In Nigeria construction activities has pervaded most urban centres as in the case of Abuja, buildings are design and build without considering the principles of passive design that will be peculiar to the local climate of the region. The following methodology were followed, all the selected 3 case studies were visited for a field survey, interviews were conducted photographs were taken, notes and sketches were collected. Ceddi Plaza Abuja and Silverbird Entertainment Centre Abuja (i.e. Case study 1 and 2) were modelled and analysed with the aid of Autodesk Ecotect Analysis simulation software to determine the annual operational energy demand of the buildings. The simulation results show that case study 1 and 2 has a total annual operational energy consumption of 192.497kwh per square meter and 164.134kwh per square meter respectively, this results indicate that case 2 is more apply more passive design principles than case study 1. Furthermore, at the end of the research the proposed shopping design was simulated and the results indicate a decrease in the annual operational energy demand by 36.3% and 24.3% with respects to case study 1 and 2. Therefore building simulation and investigating the performance of the building virtually in the pre-construction stage will help architects and other consultants to apply suitable passive design principles that will suit a particular local climate and reduces the building annual operational energy demand. Keywords: Operational Energy Demand, Passive Design, Energy Consumption, Natural Ventilation, Shopping mall, Sustainability