INTEGRATION OF ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGN PRINCIPLES IN THE DESIGN OF MIXED-USE BUILDING, ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Buildings account for a large amount of land use, energy and water consumption, air and atmosphere alteration. Considering the statistics and the impact of the built environment on human health as well as the natural environment, reducing the number of natural resources consumed by the buildings industry and the amount of pollution given off is seen as critical to achieve a sustainable environment. Eco-friendly buildings are expected to reduce greenhouse gases, save the natural resources and meet the users’ justifiable demand for more comfort and safety; in addition to their promising projected value within the global economy. This study aimed at assessing the principles of eco friendly design for its effective application in the design of mixed-use building developments in Nigeria. The methodology adopted is the descriptive research method which involved an in depth review of literature related to the study, observation schedule and selection of foreign and local Case studies to compare and deduce data concerning eco-friendly and mixed-use buildings, and field surveys to obtain data on some of the selected case studies. It employed the descriptive research method including review of literature related to the study, observation schedule and case study. This study established a design framework from the findings, through which a design proposal for a mixed-use building eco-friendly building in Abuja, Nigeria was developed while implementing eco-friendly design principles. The research concluded that eco-friendly building principles and techniques have five major components namely: energy efficiency and conservation, water efficiency and conservation, materials conservation, waste reduction, reuse and recycling and humane adaptation. Adopting these five criteria in the design and construction of buildings in Nigeria will improve the environment by reducing the negative impacts of buildings, as recommended by the study