Strategic Framework for the Integration of Compressed Adobe Bricks (CABs) into Sustainable Urban Housing Design and Construction Practices in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

The urban housing industry in Lagos State, Nigeria, is facing rising issues in terms of affordability, environmental sustainability, and material inefficiencies.  Despite the technical feasibility of Compressed Adobe Bricks (CABs), which are locally produced, environmentally benign, and thermally efficient, they are underused in urban home building due to structural constraints.  This study presents a Strategic Framework for Integrating CABs into Sustainable Urban Housing Design and Construction Practices in Lagos, utilizing a mixed-methods approach that includes 132 surveys, 15 stakeholder interviews, and laboratory material performance testing. The findings show that, while 70% of construction professionals are aware of CABs, just 11% have used them in practice.  CABs beat sandcrete blocks in thermal conductivity (0.45 W/m·K vs. 1.20 W/m·K), and had a 60% reduced carbon footprint per unit. Barriers such as a lack of regulatory inclusion (84%), client impression concerns (79%), and trained personnel shortages (68%) were highlighted as significant restraints. Stakeholder interviews highlighted policy silence, social prejudices, and a lack of demonstration projects as barriers to wider adoption. The study's uniqueness comes in its integrated methodology, which combines material performance research, stakeholder insights, and policy assessment to develop a holistic strategic framework for CAB implementation. It advocates for the incorporation of CABs in urban construction codes, public demonstration housing projects, and skill development initiatives. Future study should concentrate on user perception dynamics and the structural adaption of CABs in multi-story buildings.