Title: Effect of architectural design characteristics and dwelling lot value on affordability improvement of core housing schemes

Authors: Nnaemeka Bennet Christian Dillon Okoye; Ikechukwu Onyegiri; Marcellinus Okafor

Addresses: Department of Architecture, School of Environmental Design and Technology, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Oko Town, Nigeria ' Department of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria ' Department of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria

Abstract: Architectural design characteristics affecting dwelling lot value are identified as having influence on core housing affordability. Empirical knowledge of their impact for affordability improvement is lacking. This is required to devise strategies for affordable homes. To fill this gap, the study examined the effect of design characteristics affecting dwelling lot value on affordability of public core houses in Anambra State, Nigeria using mixed methods. The primary data were sourced from questionnaires and personal interviews. Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman's Rank-Order correlation were used for the analysis. The study found all prototypes were unaffordable and established significant variation for affordability (p-value of 0.000). Significant relationship, positive but weak with p-value of 0.000 and correlation coefficient of 0.363 was established between design characteristics affecting dwelling lot value and affordability. The paper recommends affordability improvement in future core housing schemes by reducing dwelling lot value through locating schemes away from the city border and reducing space requirement in adopting land-conserving typology.

Keywords: architectural design characteristics; dwelling lot value; housing affordability; core housing schemes; public housing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEAM.2021.120483

International Journal of the Built Environment and Asset Management, 2021 Vol.2 No.2, pp.132 - 161

Received: 24 May 2021
Accepted: 12 Aug 2021
Published online: 21 Jan 2022 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article