Passive Design as Indigenous Environmental Knowledge: A Qualitative Study of Traditional Nigerian Architecture in Hot-Humid Climates

Abstract

This study examines passive design strategies in traditional Nigerian architecture as expressions of indigenous environmental knowledge in hot-humid climates. While contemporary architectural practice in many tropical regions often prioritizes technology-driven sustainability solutions, it tends to overlook the spatial, cultural, and climatic intelligence embedded in vernacular building traditions. Using a qualitative research approach, the study draws on architectural interpretation, field observation, and critical spatial analysis to investigate selected traditional Nigerian building typologies. It focuses on key design elements such as spatial organisation (the arrangement of spaces), building form (overall shape and massing), envelope permeability (the degree to which walls and openings allow airflow), shading hierarchies (layered systems of sun control), and semi-open transitional spaces (e.g., courtyards and verandas) that help regulate indoor climate. The findings show that traditional Nigerian architecture operates through an integrated environmental logic, where passive design strategies are closely linked to social organisation and everyday spatial practices. The study argues that their decline in contemporary architecture is not due to technical limitations, but rather to a neglect of indigenous knowledge systems. By repositioning vernacular architecture as a source of climate-responsive design intelligence-rather than merely a stylistic reference-this paper contributes to architectural theory and calls for a renewed qualitative engagement with indigenous knowledge in sustainable design discourse.