AARCHES 2008 Annual Conference Book of Abstracts
THE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATORS IN NIGERIA (AARCHES)
YEAR 2008 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Theme:
CHALLENGES OF RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT FOR ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION
Date
13th– 15th, NOVEMBER, 2008.
Venue
Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
BOOK OF ABSTRACTS
1. Title:
A PRECURSORY STUDY OF THE RESOURCE POTENTIAL OF GIS-CAD INTEGRATION FOR ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE AND EDUCATION IN NIGERIA.
Authors:
ADEPEJU Adedeji .A. (mnia, maarches)
Department of Architecture, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
OLUWOLE O.A. (maarches)
Department of Architecture, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
ABEBOLA-ADELAJA L.A. (mnitp)
Department of Town and Regional Planning, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
ABSTRACT.
Geographic information systems (GIS) and Computer aided drafting and design (CADD) are separate spatially focussed technological resources that have impacted Geographically relevant decision making processes as well as engineering and the building industry. These tools have enhanced the capability of relevant professionals to express themselves more clearly to their clients and to other professionals. They have not only served as decision support systems which enables complex current problems to be analyzed more efficiently but also as tools for modelling future scenarios and their implications. Ecological and urban issues have brought to the fore more than ever before the contextual nature of pieces of architecture within the built environment. This paper examines in detail the extreme resource potential of a GIS-CADD integration for both architectural practice and architectural education.
Keywords: CADD, GIS, modelling, resource, spatial.
2. Title:
ADAPTING TO THE IMPERATIVE OF CAD KNOW-HOW: AN APPRAISAL OF STUDENTS’ SELF-HELP APPROACH
Author:
BOBADOYE Sunday Adeluyi
Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure,
ABSTRACT
Studies have shown that a larger percentage of Nigerian trained Computer Aided Design -literate architects got trained in the use of Computer Aided Design outside the conventional studio or laboratory environment in our schools of architecture. This study therefore seeks to substantiate the notion that the CAD literacy achieved by some architecture students in Nigeria has been largely attributable to self-help measures, which they have adopted with a view to attaining relevance in the globally-competitive workplace. An appraisal of the self-help measures of a group of students was done using the case study method. Suggestions were given on how to maximise the potentials inherent in this approach with the ultimate aim of improving the capacity of architecture graduates to at least meet the workplace entry-point CAD requirements from future employers.
3. Title:
ADVANCEMENTS IN COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND THE CHALLENGES FOR ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION – A FOCUS ON THE STUDENTS’ INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE
Author:
BOBADOYE Sunday Adeluyi
Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure.
ABSTRACT
This paper examines the enormous challenges which revolutionary advancements in computer and information technology poses to architectural education against the background of widespread applications of computers to architectural practice in twenty-first Century Nigeria. Architectural education as taught in the various universities and polytechnics in Nigeria has not adequately responded to the challenge of equipping students of architecture to cope with cyberspace architecture and globalization, emerging new orders in architecture and construction. The paper examines the consequences for architectural education with respect to the Student’s Industrial Work Experience, particularly the preparation of students and the expectations and realizations from the workplace.
4. Title:
ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION AND PRACTICE IN NIGERIA BEYOND THE YEAR 2020 ; THE CHALLENGES OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT.
Author
CHENDO. I.G., med, mnia, marches
Department of Architecture, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus
ABSTRACT
This paper sees Architectural education as the foundation in the development of a virile architectural profession capable of bearing the burden of the structure of the practice beyond the year 2020 when Nigeria may have attained an enviable economic status of being one of the top 20 economies in the world. All those, therefore, who are directly or indirectly engaged in defining architectural educational policies and programmes should be sensitive to the concerns of major stake holders, educators, the professional Institute etc,.
The theme of this conference, "Challenges of Resources Development for Architectural Education in Nigeria" could not have come up at a better time than now A time when the managers of the Nigerian economy are working hard to put the nation in the world class of prosperous economies with its attendant implications for the building industry and the architectural profession in particular
A living fact which is common knowledge is that the architectural students of today are the architectural educators and practitioners of tomorrow. But submissions of major stakeholders, educators and even (he Nigerian Institute of Architects in recent times about the aptitude and maturity of students being admitted into our architectural schools have not been encouraging. These issues should be of great concern to the profession because the common saying "garbage in garbage out is relevant here. If the economic target of the nation is to become a reality, then Architectural Education must start now according to Nkwogu (2008)". to train architects who will be critical thinkers, able to interact with other professionals, the general society, politicians and economists in an environment of rapid information exchange and technological changes
. . . . . “This is because the highly competitive global economy which Nigeria is striving to be strongly identified with has created unparalleled opportunities and unprecedented uncertainties.
It is in this light that this paper will examine the need for the assessment of would be architecture students' motivation, maturity and aptitude and their relevance to the architectural profession in view of the fact that the profession of architecture is recognized, according to Okah-Avae (2008), as not being an all comers course.
5. Title:
ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION AND SPECIALIZATION: THE EMERGENCE OF ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGISTS.
Author:
LUKMAN, Sani Musa
Department of Architecture, Ahmadu Bello University, zaria.
ABSTRACT
The position of those design team members, who in the early 1990s were known as architectural technicians and today as architectural technologists, has changed. Then, they were commonly thought as performing an assisting role to the architect. But today, their role is considered to be a complementary one to that of architects rather than an assisting role. They now act as the interface between design and construction thereby bridging the professional gap. With increasing frequency architectural technologists are setting up in practice on their own account or becoming partners or directors of established practices in the United Kingdom, United States of America and several other countries in Europe and South-east Asia. It is against the above backdrop that this paper examines the evolutionary trends in the education, training and the role of architectural technologists in the construction industry in Great Britain. Finally, the paper concludes that for Nigeria to be abreast with the current technological advancements and the changing demands of the 21st century construction industry there is an urgent need for the re-structuring of the architectural education curriculum especially in the universities of technology and polytechnics which were specifically created to cater for the nation’s technological needs and aspirations.
Keywords: architecture, education, curriculum, specialisation, technology.
6. Title:
ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA: THE NEW MEDIA AND INFRASTRUCTURAL CHALLENGES
Author:
Dr. MBINA, Anthony Adomi
Department of Architecture, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
ABSTRACT
The history of architectural education in Nigeria is a rather jerky and wavy thesis. It is directly or indirectly related to the nations own historical development. Admittedly, the profession of architecture is relatively new in Nigeria. In fact, it was only during the early 1950’s that the first set of Nigerian architects (who were only four in number) were produced. So compared with other professions, this is surprisingly recent, although even in some of the industrialized societies, United Kingdom for instance, it was not until the middle part of the 19th century that the earlier notion that architecture was not a profession to be taught in the classroom was discarded. Consequently, the early schools of architecture in Nigeria were pregnant with the ideals of colonization, and the curricula and manpower were like an extension of the foreign schools. The products of these schools were therefore a generation of architects who, in the wake of national prosperity (oil boom) found themselves suddenly responsible for the cultivation of a completely virgin land which got them so rich and very, very busy – too busy, in fact, to effectively propagate that which was the basis of their own evolution, namely, the educational process. Thus as the foreign influence began to dwindle, the potency and understanding of the educational process began to dissipate bringing in its wake the seeds of the problems we are today confronted with. This paper therefore takes a look at this development and other infrastructural problems associated with architectural education in Nigeria and suggest ways of ameliorating them taking into consideration the new media techniques in architectural education in the 21st Century.
Keywords: Architectural Education, Nigeria , Good Teaching, Good Teaching Methods, New Media.
7. Title:
BETWEEN RESEARCH AND DESIGN: THE IMPERATIVE FOR A RESEARCH-BASED ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE.
Author:
MUKHTAR, Mohammed Halilu
Department of Architecture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
ABSTRACT
Research, as one of the ways of generating knowledge, is assuming an increasingly significant position in the emerging knowledge society, where knowledge and information are the most important yardsticks for measuring development. The prevailing concepts of ecology and sustainable designs require, of necessity, that design decisions be based on evidence and not on intuition or preferences. There are an increasing number of projects that require research as a basis for their design decisions. Moreover, a growing number of clients expect information on the “why” behind design decisions; they want information in addition to the design.
This paper examines the subject of research as it is viewed and carried out by architects in practice. It identifies the weaknesses of that type of research and defines it as little more than library research. The paper advocates architectural practice that is based on rigorous academic research that would lead to the discovery of design concepts, principles and ideas.
It concludes by recommending strategies, ranging from curriculum change in our schools of architecture, to continuing education for practicing architects, and closer collaboration between the practice and the schools, in order to realize a research-based architectural practice.
Key Words: Research, Knowledge, Design, Architectural Practice, Education.
8. Title:
CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THE NIGERIAN ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATORS TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21st CENTURY.
Author:
ABDULLAHI Abubakar, mnia, maarches, mnim, mwcci
Director of Works, Federal College of Education, Kano.
Visiting Lecturer Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State.
ABSTRACT
The quality, quantity and effectiveness of architectural educators are some of the major determinants of the successful implementation of architectural curriculum. By implication these affect the attainment of architectural educational goals in both the universities and polytechnics, the institutions that run programmes leading to the award of degrees/diplomas, particularly in Nigeria. However, some studies have shown that the quality, quantity and effectiveness of the educators in Nigeria are inadequate/ not meeting up the challenges of contemporary development, especially in the area of Information and Communication Technology, number of Ph.D holders and Pedagogy. This paper is advocating for capacity building for the educators as a panacea for the problems of training of architects in Nigeria to meet up with the challenges of the 21st century. In order to achieve this purpose, the paper reviews concepts of capacity building and some studies carried out in Nigeria as on quality, quantity and effectiveness of architectural educators. The paper concludes by emphasizing on the need for capacity building for the upgrading of the educators so as to facilitate the attainment of the educational goals for both internal and external validation in order to meet up the challenges.
Key words: architectural educators, capacity building, contemporary developments, curriculum, goal.
9. Title:
CASE STUDIES, A VERITABLE METHOD OF DESIGN LEARNING
Author:
ELENDU Theophilus Chidi fnia
Department of Architecture, Imo State University, Owerri
ABSTRACT
Very few buildings are carefully evaluated either from user perspective or from the point of sustainability. Students of architecture and even practitioners develop design strategies from architectural data books, Magazines and Journals.
Magazines avoid discussing features in the building that are not successful. This skews the learning process.
Design can be improved by a deep understanding of the complexities of buildings. Careful assessment of the performance of existing buildings can inform both future and existing projects.
This paper explores and reviews a case study approach to learning in ARC 311- architectural Design in the third year architecture program at the Imo State University, Owerri.
Keywords: case study, post-occupancy studies, technology in architecture
10. Title:
CHALLENGES OF RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT FOR ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA
Author:
OKONKWO Francis .O.
Department of Architecture Federal Polytechnic Oko.
ABSTRACT
Architectural education in Nigeria has moved a step toward achieving its goals since the inception of the course in Nigeria before the civil war in the mid sixties, Architecture has been shaking to find its feel in most part of this continent "Africa". The main issue with respect to Architecture remains the inability of the government to devote significant resources towards the full realization of the right for adequate training of Architects.
The existence of inappropriate regulation and insufficient planning system can cause havoc in providing the necessary resources needed for architectural development and training of Architectural educators in the Held of Architecture
The infrastructural problems caused by the look worm attitude of the planners and the inability to face the challenges of the time financially on other wise leads to a lot of waste of man power and a waste of resources. The policy of thought towards achieving some certain goals cannot be achieved if others branches that will make the policy rolling, fails to move. Finance, intra-structure technology/transfer, man power and availability of other logistics must not be static or neglected before we could get something meaningful. The writer will expanciate more in his paper and also communicate for more understanding.
11. Title:
CHALLENGES OF THE NIGERIA EXPERIENCE: ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION AND THE CURRICULUM.
Author:
FASHUYI, Olugbenga Stephen,
Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure.
ABSTRACT
This paper appraises the relevance of current academic curriculum in architecture. It posits that the conservative nature of the curriculum renders it incapable of coping with novel challenges in architecture which are precipitated by economic changes and climatic considerations. The paper opines that the development of a modern variant of Nigerian traditional architecture arises form the natural evolution of architecture beginning from traditional to modernism. This evolution, it asserts was impaired as a result of quack incursion in the building sector. It states that the quack incursion owes to the almost zero-involvement of architects in private residential designs at the oil boom era witnessed in the country since, the oil was first discovered in the 1970s. However, the ensuring economic changes after the boom era induced economic depression, thus creating new societal demands that resulted into more pragmatic architectural solutions. This solution is coined as Late-Modern while others include Low-Trop and Regional-Trends. The paper concludes that the current curriculum is not structured to cope with the challenges arising from the societal demands and sues for a review of the present curriculum to enable architects cope in these circumstances.