The Association of Consulting Architects of Nigeria (ACAN) has outlined measures on how best to mitigate climate change with its attendant devastating economic, physical and social impact on the entire globe.
The measures which were directed at governments, professionals and the masses were given at the two-day 2022 ACAN symposium and business forum held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Therein, it was indicated that there was the need for a concerted effort by the government, citizens and communities in addressing the effects of climate change by developing policies, physical plans, development plans, urban plans, drainage plans and emergency plans.
Government agencies and relevant bodies, they emphasized, should observe, collate and analyse meteorological data in order to provide timely and accurate reporting of weather and climate information.
Efforts should also be made to collate geophysical data and land surveying information that would help create the basis for better living sustainable environments.
Other suggestions included that government should promote, fund and motivate professionals to design for climate change and extract the benefits in traditional architecture influenced by culture, local climate and weather patterns.
“The use of sustainable architecture in the design and construction of buildings that are environmentally friendly with cultural relevance have possibilities which include ecological, green, bio-climatic, biomimetic architecture and low energy, as well as net-zero buildings. There should be a concerted effort for new design thinking, collaboration with universities, research institutes, using innovation in building materials and components.
“The preservation of green areas, trees, landscaping and vertical planting in buildings was advocated. Recourse to the use of restorative, regenerative, responsive and resilient architecture as a vocabulary for sustainable developments should be considered. Government should promote and invest only in sustainable architecture.”
Furthermore, they advised that energy efficiency, water conservation, solar shading, rain water harvesting and recycling should be part of the vocabulary of the design mandate for buildings in Nigeria.
To address issues of poor quality buildings, they insisted on the use of the building code and regulations. Building professionals, they stated, should adopt the use of innovative ventilation techniques beyond the primary cross ventilation understanding, to a total integration of various forms of climate responsive techniques so as to achieve ventilation that combines building orientation, cross ventilation, stack ventilation, single aspect ventilation, venturi effect, sun shading, insulation and venting to create comfortable interior environments.
