Low-Cost Housing for the Urban Poor in Akure, Nigeria: Materials and Techniques of Construction

Abstract

It is universally accepted that housing is humanity’s third most essential need after food and clothing. Rapid population growth and increasing urbanization have led to overcrowding in urban housing, homelessness and overstretching of existing infrastructure and services. This paper examines the various construction materials that are readily available in abundance in Nigeria and construction techniques used in building to support housing for the urban poor. It appraises the architectural functions and values of these materials and their potentialities as common and affordable building materials. The paper concludes that with the application of applied building research and general acceptance of locally available materials and building construction techniques, the problem of high cost of building materials that make it difficult for the urban poor to have their own housing would be greatly resolved in Nigeria urban centres.

Keyword: low-cost, housing, urban poor, material, techniques, construction.