Evaluation of the use of Green Façade in Residential Buildings in Kubwa, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Housing development in Nigeria has constantly been carried out by the private sector as well as the government at various levels in time past. The use of sustainable elements and materials globally in recent years in meeting housing needs has indicated a progressive shift in the approach to design by architects and the built environment professionals around the world. But little has been seen in building developments in Nigeria both from the public or private sectors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of the green façade as a sustainable element in constructing residential buildings. The study used Kubwa district in FCT Abuja as the study area. Primary data was derived by the administration of structured questionnaire to residents living in Kubwa. The data was analysed using the descriptive statistical tools of frequency and percentages of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings from the research indicated that they are social and physical factors that have hindered the use of green façade in the study area. The major factors responsible for this include difficulty in getting professional help and low financial status. It is therefore recommended that both the government and the private sectors intensify efforts towards enforcing housing policies, creating incentives and delivering regular symposiums that will encourage green architectural practices such as the use of green façade in residential building and all its benefits in the built environment.