Interdisciplinary Behavior and Social Sciences – Lumban Gaol (Ed.) © 2015Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-1-138-02735-0 Discovering design implications of public housing adjustment benefits in Nigeria A.D. Isah, T.H. Khan & A.S. Ahmad Faculty of Built Environment, Department ofArchitecture, UniversitiTeknologi Malaysia ABSTRACT: Heterogeneous spatial paradigm in public housing design is essentially inevitable and most avidly followed urban issue in Nigeria today. In contrast to the one time homogenous configuration provided which has proved ineffective overtime, layout patterns and benefits of transformation are less focused on. Equally, design solutions emerging from transformation benefits have limited empirical footing. In this circumstance, houses of urban public housing typology were studied after transformation. The study adopted conditional sampling of 42 public housings in five states of northern Nigeria. Social pattern analysis was used to assess the social pattern of the transformed spatial configurations, subjected to gamma analysis in establishing the spatial pattern of adjustments. The resultant graphical delineation indicated that the spatial system developed of out of the social meaning imposed upon it by the social activities of the occupants. Thus, design implication requires developers to consider future transformation initiatives of occupants at the design stage. Keywords: Discover, Design implications, Housing adjustment, Social pattern 1 INTRODUCTION Emphasis on heterogeneity in public housing design tends to avail the benefits users achieve in the trans- formation process (Khan, 2014). Isah et al. (2014) suggested that the inclusion of users’ socio-cultural inclination in the design process will enhance public housing sustainability. Indeed, socio cultural attributes have been identify as key in Nigerian housing delivery (Ayoola and Amole, 2014; Ibem et al., 2012; Jiboye, 2011a, 2011b; Jiboye, 2010; Maina, 2013; Odediran et al., 2013; Ogu and Ogbuozobe, 2001). This study therefore showcases the social pattern reflected in the spatial adjustment of public houses embarked upon by the users in order to achieve desired housing con- sumption. As part of a regional study, it examined contextually users’ spatial changes to public hous- ing unit in the transformation process. Accordingly, 42 houses were selected by stratified randomly sam- pling among transformed housing units in 10 housing estates purposefully chosen for the research. The find- ings categorised changes made by occupants into conversions, extension, addition and re-configurations of spaces reflecting both control groups and stress overtime as motivating forces. The design implication requires a rethink by developers to accommodate these considerations in initial spatial provisions to avoid vio- lation of setbacks and building lines associated with unguided transformation in attaining the benefits of transformation process. 2 BACKGROUND STUDIES 2.1 Housing transformation Attaining household space needs with changes in hous- ing consumption level is considered significant benefit in the transformation process rather than improv- ing physical features (Tipple, 2000), thus reflect- ing social communication with civilization (Franklin, 2006). Advancement from prototype housing which has not proffer solutions to housing quality in Nigeria (Olotuah and Bobadoye, 2011) require consideration of the dynamism and benefits in heterogeneity experi- enced over time in public housings layouts as a result of occupants’ action of housing layout adjustment. Thereby, reflecting the inevitability of housing trans- formation. Moreover, place attachment with social ties developed over time, familiarity and conveniences are identified as attributes that motivate occupants’ choice to transform rather relocate dwellings (Seek, 1983). Even though (Clark and Onaka, 1983) concluded that factors such as lifecycle needs and socio-economic variables which motivates user transformation equally motivate residential mobility. However, low income 361