This column serves as an invaluable resource for exploring key issues related to change and development in architecture. Following it has provided me with significant professional insights, reinforcing my existing knowledge—especially in the areas of construction and architectural practices. I am Engineer Oladele Elnathan Fadipe, Managing Director at ELFAD Concept Limited. My career in the engineering space has spanned over 15 years, majoring in civil and environmental engineering. I have also been involved in advocacy for sustainable construction practices like green technology, water conservation, and biogas systems.
Adonis Fakanlu’s article on the intersection of climate change and architecture, which was recently published in this column, inspired a drive to facilitate knowledge-sharing around the discourse. Not only does it resonate with my professional pursuits; it touches on crucial aspects of sustainable architecture and how the future in architecture can be framed to withstand uncontrollable climate upheavals. My intention is to review Fakanlu’s article to contribute to knowledge and also expand on the core intentions of the article to inform and inspire up-and-coming engineers.
The article opens up with a powerful and broad overview of climate change and its horrific implications on both the architecture and construction industries. As a firm believer in green environmental and civil engineering practices, I commend the article’s emphasis on attesting to the possibility of architecture to mitigate climate change. Fakanlu did the objective of the article noble by outlining strategies instrumental to implementing changes required for architectural sustainability.
The article addressed water conservation in construction, where it called out the utilization of rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling. It, therefore, emphasizes the relevance of this to Goal 6 of the SDG (Clean Water and Sanitation), pushing the narrative of buildings to not only conserve water but also be capable of treating wastewater on-site. I believe this is a progressive form for architects, and I encourage them to stick to this path and continually adopt sewage treatment plants to ensure that water is reused judiciously to reduce environmental pollution.
In the article, Fakanlu brilliantly touched on innovative sustainable building materials like self-healing concrete and smart glass, sophisticated materials, but somehow, he found a way to integrate them into Nigeria’s architectural reality. Many of these sophisticated building materials are hard to access, majorly because of their cost; hence, the article found a way to propose locally sourced materials in a semblance of the effect of sophisticated building materials. The recycling of low-carbon materials like timber and bamboo into concrete materials is a pointer to standardized sustainable practice. While it fosters economic growth, it helps architects to depend less on imported resources that might expend costs and waste time before arrival.
Narrowing to the main course of the article, Fakanlu discussed at length the approaches for implementing climate-resilient designs. He mentioned that in this time when the global climate is increasingly deteriorating, it’s important that buildings are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. He mentioned the practice of elevated structures and the development of urban planning strategies that include improving drainage systems, creating green buffer zones, and utilizing biogas technology for waste management in urban centers. This is almost perfect, as it aligns with already existing practice at ELFAD Concept; however, I’ll add that specificity should be accorded in this regard. Not all areas in Nigeria deserve these elevated structures to combat the effect of climate change; it’s preferable for flood-prone areas like Lagos, Delta, Bayelsa, and Anambra, among others, to be in focus.
The depth of the article, which I appreciate, also addresses renewable energy, urging the need to adopt energy-efficient tools like solar panels and green roofs. While Fakanlu’s options align with global standards, I believe the article could have gained more depth if the adoption of biogas systems had been added to the list. Biogas manages waste and also produces energy. It’s a vital system that should be in the homes of urban spaces, as they offer relevant alternatives to fossil fuels, which reduces the impact of climate change.
Addressing architects on their expected roles in combating climate change, the article calls for collaboration across different disciplines within the architectural, construction, and environmental industries. He believes that reducing the effect of climate change isn’t the effort of one party alone; it involves the collective effort of engineers, urban planners, environmental scientists, and policymakers who must all work together to constantly come up with forward-moving solutions for climate change. I concur wholeheartedly with this; we can only achieve resilient architecture and a survivable environment if all hands are on deck, involving the different stakeholders across relevant industries.
In conclusion, Fakanlu’s article highlights the urgent need for more scholarly discussions on the intersection of climate change and architecture—conversations that have the potential to reshape how experts in the field approach this critical issue. While various strategies exist for mitigating climate change, architecture is often overlooked despite being a viable and impactful solution.
I appreciate how Fakanlu conveyed his message, ensuring that it covered diverse aspects of the topic. The intentionality behind the article is commendable.Â
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