LANDSCAPE INTEGRATION IN AFRICA COURTYARD HOUSING FOR THERMAL COMFORT AND SOCIAL SPACE

This study examined landscape integration within African courtyard housing typologies to optimize physiological comfort and social space across hot-dry, hot-arid, and warm-humid climate zones. The objectives were to assess thermal performance of landscape elements, evaluate the influence of courtyard geometry on social interaction, determine combined effects of landscape and morphology on PET/UTCI, identify design gaps between vernacular and contemporary housing, and develop evidence-based design guidelines. A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design was adopted. Field measurements of air temperature, globe temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed were conducted in 18 residential compounds across Kano, Maradi, and Lagos using HOBO data loggers and Kestrel heat stress trackers. PET and UTCI were calculated and compared between traditional courtyard and contemporary detached housing. Social data were collected through structured questionnaires, behavior mapping, and semi-structured interviews with 180 households. Results showed that courtyards with height-to-width ratios of 1.2–2.0 and ≥30% vegetation canopy reduced PET by 2.8–4.9°C and UTCI by 3.2–5.3°C compared to detached housing, p<0.001. Vegetation canopy, H/W ratio, ground permeability, shading depth, and water features were significant predictors of PET, R²=0.71. Courtyards sustained PET<36°C for 4.5 hours longer daily and increased mean group size from 1.8 to 4.4 persons. Contemporary housing met only 1/5 vernacular design parameters, resulting in a 5.2°C PET penalty. The study concluded that landscape and morphology were primary, low-cost levers for climate adaptation. Recommendations included amending building codes to require H/W≥1.2, ≥30% vegetation cover, and PET/UTCI performance targets for African mass housing.