Assessment of Regenerative Architecture Principles in Nigeria; A Case Study of Selected Research Institutes in Nigeria

Buildings are an integral part of human existence, as shelter is one of the three basic needs of man. However, the design and construction of buildings, so far, has affected the natural environment negatively. The focus of research is, therefore, shifting towards buildings whose existence have minimum negative effects on the natural environment and even goes a step further to study buildings that positively influence the environment in which they are built. Nigeria, as a developing country, is also shifting towards these trends in building design and construction, however, more studies have to be carried out in order to fit these trends into our local context. This study, therefore, aims at identifying and analyzing the regenerative architecture principles adopted in the design of selected research institutes in Nigeria with a view to promote environmentally sustainable designs in Nigeria. Case studies of selected research institutes were assessed to determine the extent to which they comply with the principles and strategies of regenerative architecture, as proposed by Littman in 2009. Data was collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analyses. The findings of this study suggest that the predominant strategies of regenerative architecture employed in Nigeria are those that promote and cater to energy efficiency, whilst other strategies of regenerative architecture were barely acknowledged. This paper concludes that as much as energy supply is a major issue in Nigeria, other strategies of regenerative architecture can also be employed in the design and construction of buildings to ensure a holistic net positive impact of the buildings on the environment.