International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering (IJITEE)
ISSN: 2278-3075, Volume-8 Issue-9, July 2019
251
Published By:
Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering
& Sciences Publication
Retrieval Number: I8113078919/19©BEIESP
DOI:10.35940/ijitee.I8113.078919
Abstract: Modular construction is a construction method
where pre-designed building units are constructed off-site,
conveyed to site as components and assembled to form a building
or structure. The construction method is adjudged to significantly
reduce building time and offers good economic value which are
some of its key benefits over traditional construction methods.
This study evaluated architects’ awareness level and adoption of
modular construction method in Nigeria, in order to ascertain its
application level towards providing prompt affordable housing
projects delivery in the country. The study is a survey research that
engaged a pragmatic research approach. Both qualitative and
quantitative inquiry methods were employed to carry out the
research. Qualitative inquiry method was employed to gather
relevant data used to develop a structured questionnaire that was
used to collect quantitative data. The questionnaire was
distributed to a hundred architects who were randomly selected
from a hundred architectural firms registered to practice in Lagos
State, the most populous state in Nigeria. A total of seventy-one
participants provided data for the study. The data were analysed
with statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software,
version 21. The result depicts that majority (87%) of the
respondents are aware of modular construction as an approach
used in building construction, but just few (32%) of the
respondents have adopted modular construction in the delivery of
affordable housing scheme in the study area. In addition, it was
found that modular construction for affordable housing projects
is mostly adopted for its waste reduction, construction time
reduction and cost saving benefits. The study concludes that
though architects’ awareness level of modular construction
method and its benefits is high in Nigeria, its adoption by the
architects for prompt delivery of affordable housing projects in
the study area is low. Hence, appropriate measures were
recommended to enhance the adoption of modular construction
method by architects to combat housing challenges experienced in
Nigeria.
Index Terms: Affordable Housing, Architects’ Perspective,
Modular Construction, Nigeria.
I. INTRODUCTION
Shelter is a necessity and the second most crucial human need
after food [1]. However, copious evidence from research
revealed that there is an unabated housing deficit of about 21
Revised Manuscript Received on July 05, 2019.
Sholanke A. B. is an Architect and a Lecturer at Covenant University,
Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Opoko A. B. is an Architect and a Senior Lecturer at Covenant
University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Onakoya A. O. is a graduate Architect currently undergoing her masters
at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Adigun T. F. is a graduate Architect currently undergoing her masters at
Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
million units in Nigeria which can be traced as far back as the
colonial era. Though, the Nigerian government has at various
times tried to implement different policies and programmes to
tackle the problem of housing deficiency in the country,
nonetheless, there has been an increase in the urban housing
crisis in the country [2]. The high cost of materials poses a
major challenge in the provision of affordable housing in
Nigeria. Construction processes and the built environment
also have great impact on the environment, human well-being
as well as the overall economy. However, modular
construction is a method that involves the use of pre-designed
building units or parts that are constructed off-site, conveyed
to site as components and assembled to form a building or
structure. Modular construction method significantly reduces
building time and offers good economic value which are some
of its benefits over traditional construction methods [3]. To
this end, modular construction is being preferred and used to
delivery projects promptly and at good economic value in
many countries.
It is against this backdrop that this study evaluated architects’
awareness level and adoption of modular construction method
in Nigeria, in order to ascertain its application level towards
providing prompt affordable housing projects delivery in the
country. To this end, two research questions were developed
as follows:
1. What is the level of awareness of modular
construction method among architects in Nigeria?
2. To what extent is modular construction method adopted
by architects in Nigeria for affordable housing delivery in the
country?
Based on the research questions, two research objectives
were formulated as follows:
1. To evaluate the level of awareness of modular
construction method among architects in Nigeria.
2. To examine the extent to which modular construction is
adopted by architects in Nigeria for affordable housing
delivery in the country.
The scope of this study is limited to Lagos State in Nigeria.
The study was restricted to Lagos State as it is one of the most
populous and continuously growing cities in Nigeria with a
high rate of housing deficiency [3]. Currently, the state is
experiencing rapid growth in infrastructural and building
developments, which is attracting several construction
professionals, including architects, from different parts of the
country and the world to
practice in the state.
Awareness Level and Adoption of Modular
Construction for Affordable Housing in Nigeria:
Architects’ Perspective
Sholanke A. B., Opoko A. P., Onakoya A. O., Adigun T. F.