Sustainable Site Planning; A Soil Conservation Strategy for Residential Developments in Lagos, Nigeria
Akagwu Mamajaunkwun
Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo state,Nigeria
Abstract
The concept of sustainability has taken the center stage as a key to addressing several tropical development problems. The residential built environment is a complex environment consisting of both artificial and natural elements. Soil conservation and management problems usually arise in residential areas in situations where the artificial elements largely dominate the residential plot. This research was carried out using collection of primary and secondary data from questionnaires administered, observations, literature and case studies. The research revealed that most developed residential plots in the study area have larger areas covered with artificial site organization elements, with erosion effects visible on the building elements. The research aimed at employing the principles of sustainable site planning in increasing the amount of natural elements or sustainable artificial elements of residential tropical plots in New-Site Estate, Satellite town, Lagos, Nigeria as a strategy for soil conservation and management. It reveals that planning and monitoring were the major problems that brought about covering of large areas of residential plots by the built structure. The research recommended that the percentage area covered by sustainable landscape elements should be provided as part of the components of site analysis for building approval, the building laws should be strictly adhered to during the development of residential plots, especially with the aspect of setbacks and local development and planning authorities should be more vigilant and transparent and in monitoring and ensuring standards. The research concluded that sustainable site planning for tropical residential developments in Lagos, Nigeria is the the basis for ensuring available and conserved soil space around residential structures.