Discuss how the Climate affects architectural planning and design in

(a) Kano (hot and dry climate)

(b)Lagos (warm and humid climate)

Introduction

Climate is the statistical composite of weather conditions for some place viewed
over a long period of time, usually for duration of at least 20 to 35 years.

Understanding of the climate is therefore essential to the design of climate responsive

buildings. It is proper when designing for a particular region to put into consideration
the climatic conditions of the region.

Vitruvius, in his Ten Books on Architecture drew attention to the importance of

climate in architecture and town planning.

The designer or architect should design with consideration of climate and have full
knowledge of prevailing climatic and weather conditions of the area under design.

The knowledge of the relationship between these environmental element vis-

à-vis buildings is a fundamental requirement for architecture in Nigeria. Olotuah
(2001) buttresses this by saying that the design of pleasant buildings that ensures
physiological comfort of users is only achieved through an understanding of the
climate and environment (the adjacent system) and the human responsive systems.
However, the environmental element includes the weather and climate. The variations
in the state of the atmosphere from time to time and from one place to another are
described by the two word but they are both concerned with temperature, rainfall,
pressures, winds and so on.

In Nigeria, there are different climatic zones which dictate the different architectural
design remedies. Ogunsote (1991) identifies six climatic zones which are: the coastal
zone, the forest zone, the transitional zone, the savannah zone, the highland zone and
lastly the semi-desert zone. These climatic zones help parade a wealth of traditional

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house forms in traditional architecture, reflect the lifestyle of people and are symbols
of heritage of the people, Olotuah (2001) expatiates.

THE HOT DRY CLIMATE (SAHEL) OF KANO (NORTHERN NIGERIA)

The Sahel climate or Tropical dry climate is the predominant climate type in the
northern part of Nigeria.

The climatic conditions generally exhibit only two different seasons, namely, a short
wet season and a prolonged dry season. Temperatures during the day remain constantly
high, while humidity is relatively low throughout the year, with little or no cloud cover.

Location and Position

Kano city and its region is located between latitudes 10°30’-13°N and
longitudes 7° 40’- 10° 35’. The city is located some 900 kilometres from the edge of
the Sahara desert and some 1,140 kilometres away from the Atlantic Ocean (Barau
2007). Kano city and its environs are replete with numerous and outstanding
architectural sites of esteemed tourism values (Bello 2009; Aliyu 2009).

Temperature

In Kano, mean monthly maximum temperature is 34 oC while mean monthly minimum

temperature is 22Oc (Ogunsote, 2002). Wind in this zone is dust laden because of
proximity to Sahara desert.

The table below shows the climatic changes of the state

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Relief

The relief is greatly influenced by the geology of the area for example, igneous
structures are always higher in elevation when compared to sedimentary structures that
are lower in elevation respectively, (Abdullahi 2007).

Kano city is associated with very hot scorching sunshine which leads to high
evaporation processes. Also the mean annual temperature and total rainfall are about
260C and 884.4mm respectively, Olafin, (1987). And the climate is determined by the
movement of two air masses, a moist rather cool southerly air mass known as the south
– westerly and a hot and dry air mass called the north easterly. The moist south air
forms wedges under the lighter dry air and the region where the two air masses meet is
primarily an area of profound moisture gradient. The humidity is called the
Intertropical Discontinuity (ITD). From 210C in the coolest months, December and
January when the northeasterly wind is at the height blowing vehemently unchecked
from the Sahara, it is cool, very dry and dusty, also to 31 0C hottest months April to
May, hence the climatic conditions of the study area is strongly influenced by rainfall
and temperature.

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON KANO ARCHITECTURE

Kano, located in northern Nigeria, is known for its hot and dry climate. This type of
climate significantly influences architectural design and planning in the region, as it
poses unique challenges and considerations for creating comfortable and sustainable
built environments.

The city, a former emirate, was once encircled by a formidable wall, parts of which
still stand today. This ancient wall wasn’t just for defense; it was a symbol of the city’s
prestige. The traditional mud architecture of Kano, known as ‘Tubali’, was a marvel of
indigenous engineering. These structures, with their thick walls and minimal openings,

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were a natural fit for the Sahelian climate, keeping interiors cool under the scorching
sun.

Increase in temperature and flood events have affected the materiality

and structure of the monuments of the city particularly the city walls, gates and
Gidan Makama Museum. In this case, the major challenge is erosion which has
become severe on the city walls and gates. Another challenge is flooding which has
been causing enormous damages to the mud stalls at the famous Kurmi market.

For Gidan Makama museum, it is observed from interview with experts that roofs of
the various rooms leak heavily when rain storms occur, while excessive heating cause
cracks on the walls. Sometimes the threat is from raising underground water level
which also cause problem for the floor and walls of rooms of the museums. The period
for the severe wall erosion (wall brick and plasters) is from 1970s to 2000 and this
might indicate the relevance of climate change since the periods correspond with
periods of climatic uncertainty.

DESIGN IMPLICATION AND REQUIREMENT

The climate of this region, calls for design solutions that can vitiate cold and biting
winds while providing a cool respite from the intense heat of the mid-day sun. The
impact of solar heat is enormous and has to be contended with in achieving
comfortable room interiors.
 Protection against Solar Radiation: The main design task in this region is to
reduce the impact of solar radiation vis-à-vis heat gain and glare. Also, adequate
control of ingress of hot, dust and sand laden air into the built environment
especially the building interior is equally important for comfort. Opening in this
zone should also be protected against sun and rain penetrations. Hence this calls for
sun-shading devices. Other areas that need to be shaded include all outdoor spaces
like courtyard, verandah, patio etc.
 Completely enclosed courtyards are necessity.
 Small openings (windows) are used to prevent solar radiation and hot air from
entering the indoor spaces of the buildings.

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 Provision of trees, water bodies in form of pools, basins among others in the
environment
should be encouraged. Trees are nature’s own evaporative coolers perfect for dry
climate, if water supply permits. Trees also filter blowing dust from the air common
in the area, as a result of North-East trade wind from Sahara Desert.
 Ventilation: Though, there is need for ventilation in this zone, but it is not a
primary design consideration when compared with the southern zone of the country.
Agarwal and Komolafe (1983) add that deliberate effort should be made to reduce
the inflow of air into the building, because inflow air introduces sand into the
building interiors. Small windows (openings) are required to prevent solar radiation
and dust laden air entering the interior space.
 Thermal Insulation: Buildings need to be well-insulated to reduce heat gain and
maintain cooler indoor temperatures. This can be achieved through the selection of
appropriate building materials with good thermal properties, such as clay bricks or
earth construction techniques. Insulation in roofs and walls helps to prevent the
transfer of heat from the external environment to the interior spaces. In line with
this, Earth is preferred as a totally enveloping material (for roof and walls). Circular
form is predominant.
 Site Planning (Forms and Orientation): The orientation of buildings also plays a
crucial role in architectural design in Kano. Proper orientation can maximize natural
ventilation and minimize exposure to direct sunlight. Designers often place
windows strategically to facilitate cross-ventilation and encourage the flow of cool
breezes through the building. Additionally, incorporating shading devices such as
overhangs, louvers, or external screens helps to block the intense sunlight and
reduce heat gain while still allowing for natural light. Compact planning will
economize land usage and help conserve heat. For the same reason double banking
should be used. It is very important to provide shade trees, water bodies, shrubs etc.
North-South orientation is recommended for buildings in this zone of Nigeria. Since
the sun-path across this zone is East-West, this orientation reduces the amount of
solar radiation which external walls are exposed to. Though in practice, it may not

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 be feasible to achieve the North-South orientation due to other design
considerations. In such instances, the best compromise orientation should be
adopted.
 Water scarcity is another significant challenge in Kano's hot and dry climate.
Architects and planners must consider sustainable water management strategies in
their designs. This can include the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems
to collect and store rainwater for various uses, such as irrigation or non-potable
water needs. Efficient plumbing fixtures and water-saving technologies can help
conserve water resources and reduce the strain on the local supply.

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THE WARM AND HUMID CLIMATE OF LAGOS
Lagos falls under the Tropical Belt (Rain Forest) from latitudes 50- 6.50N of equator. This zone is
characterized by about nine months of rainy season, and about eleven months of high humidity in a
year but with a pleasant evening breeze from the ocean or river. This zone experiences heavy rainfall
usually between 1000mm and 1250mm and at times above 1250mm for the swampy areas around
Niger Delta. The main rain occurs between April and October, and the maximum temperature never
falls below comfort limit.

Mean monthly maximum temperature in this region is 32 0c while the mean monthly temperature is
220c.

EFFECTIVE DESIGN SOLUTIONS

In this region, main requirements necessary for the physiological comfort of occupants are:

1. Cross-ventilation: As a result of intense solar radiation leading to an increase in temperature, the

relative humidity of the atmosphere also increase, thus the air becomes saturated with solar
vapour and the air becomes moist. Hence, cross ventilation is necessary to ensure adequate
comfort.
2. Thermal Insulation: Thermal insulation prevents the room interior from being heated up by the
hot tropical sun, thus preventing it from being unduly uncomfortable. This is resolved through the
use of wide openings. This indicates that the openings should be large and situated preferably in
the North and South walls. Olotuah (2001) emphasizes that the use of wide opening in rooms
which all require privacy and security makes it expedient to group rooms around a central country
and with a wide verandah running around it. This is one of the factors responsible for the
evolution of the courtyard, a dominant feature in Yoruba tradition architecture. Since maximum
monthly temperature never falls below comfort limit, no special precaution need to be taken
against cold discomfort. Also, despite the warm and humid nature of the climate, thermal storage
is still needed for two months of the year.
3. Site Planning (Forms and Orientation): The layout of buildings should expose a small port of
the building surface to the western sun as much as possible. Hence, the building should be
oriented in North-South with the longer axis-facing East-West direction. This will enable the
building to make best use of the south westerly wind which is favorable to the occupants, thereby
minimizing the effect of solar radiation on the building. Also, spacing of buildings should allow
breeze penetration and single banking should be used.
4. Protection against heavy rainfall: Rainfall has an appreciable effect upon the exterior and
interior of buildings in this region, as it affects the materials, water proofing, and proof damp
courses. Buildings in this region should be protected from heavy rainfall as a result of heavy

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down pours. The consequence of this is the high pitched roofs with wide roof overhangs of
buildings facilitating quick rainwater disposal and protect the exterior house walls from brunt of
rainfall. Design that guard against rainfall effect should be adopted; this dictates the
discouragement in the use of flat-roofs (roof-slope of angle less than 10 degrees). Adequate
drainage: is also necessary as a result of erosion and flooding which are functions of excess
surface rainwater. Protection against solar radiation: Sun-shading device is one of the design
recommendations that are applicable to all regions all over Nigeria, because of the nature of
climate that is being experienced. Shading device shields buildings surfaces and interior space
from solar radiation. Their effectiveness depends on their location, orientation and form. Exterior
shading devices are more efficient than those within building walls. This is so because they
intercept the sun's radiation before it can reach the building surface. However, the design of
external shading device in warm humid areas of the southern Nigeria is desirable to exclude the
sun throughout the year for thermal comfort. External shading device include curtains, glass, solid
or louvered shutter, security bars and mosquito screens for allowing a view out, protection from
rain, protection from direct solar radiation, and protection from sky glare. The use of
outdoor space like overhangs, verandahs, balconies may be adopted for sun protection. Others
may include the use of vertical devices, horizontal devices or combination of both (Egg-crate
devices).
CHOICE OF APPROPRIATE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
The climatic requirements can be met through the use of appropriate construction materials and
methods. Apart from the envelope, the materials within the internal space for example, floors,
partitions, furniture requirements, luggage etc. also modify the indoor temperatures by affecting
their respective thermal properties. When the indoor thermal conditions are not controlled, the
materials affect the temperature of both indoor air and surfaces, thereby affecting the occupancy
comfort significantly. Ogunsote (1991) reiterates that walls and floors should be of lightweight
and short-time lag. Roofs should be light with a reflective surface and cavity. Wall and roof
finishes should be light in colour. Wall should be adequately protected against driving rain.
Lesiuk (2002) also identifies special problems of materials choice and assemble details because of
high humidity in the warm insects and pests must be included in materials tasks. Choice of
building materials should recognize that high humidity accelerates mould and aid algae growth,
rusting, rotting and organic decay.

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