Evaluating the Environmental Benefits of Using Traditional Craftsmanship Techniques in Nigerian Architecture

Abstract

This article explores the environmental benefits of integrating traditional craftsmanship techniques into contemporary architectural practice, particularly within the Nigerian context. In an era marked by accelerating climate change, material depletion, and cultural homogenization, there is an urgent need to revisit sustainable, low-impact building practices rooted in indigenous knowledge systems. The study focuses on techniques such as mud and adobe construction, wood carving and joinery, bamboo and raffia weaving, terracotta and pottery applications, and thatch roofing, analyzing their environmental performance in architecture. Through a mixed-methods approach combining field observation, literature analysis, and case study evaluation, the research examines how these traditional materials and methods contribute to reduced carbon emissions, enhanced thermal regulation, biodegradability, and resource efficiency. Findings from selected buildings—such as the Gidan Makama Museum in Kano, the African Studies Centre at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and internationally relevant examples like the Gando Primary School in Burkina Faso—illustrate how these techniques are not only environmentally viable but also socially and economically beneficial. The article emphasizes that such methods support circular material life cycles, reduce dependence on industrialized construction systems, and foster traditional craftsmanship economies, thus aligning with global sustainability and cultural preservation goals.