Assessing Spatial Deficiency in Design Response: Evidence-Based Spatial Strategies for Low-Rise Multi-Family Housing in Peri- Urban Nigeria
Abstract
Rapid growth along the Abuja–Keffi corridor has pushed housing in Greater Karu towards multi-storey construction, yet many completed low-rise schemes still show rigid layouts, poorly placed storage and weak passive cooling. This exploratory case study paired measured spatial metrics with interviews of residents and built-environment professionals across four local developments. Four indicators, Net-to-Gross Ratio, Circulation Factor, Floor Area per Person and Wall-to-Floor Ratio, were calculated for each case and read alongside the qualitative findings. Fragmented circulation, poor vertical access, uneven room sizes and a mismatch between standard kitchens and local cooking habits recurred across the sample. These findings shaped a design proposal built around dual protected stair cores, a modular grid with adaptable partitions, consolidated wet-wall servicing, distributed storage and a hierarchical waste strategy. As the prototype has not been built, its calculated performance is offered as a design target rather than a validated outcome. Given the small qualitative sample, the findings are presented as evidence from four specific cases rather than a claim about the wider corridor, though they suggest useful directions for revising local spatial standards in peri-urban multi-storey housing.
Keywords
Space Optimisation; Low-Rise Multi-Family Housing; Peri-urban Housing; Post- Occupancy Evaluation; Nasarawa State; Passive Design; Modular Partitioning
References
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