A review of retractable vault covered housing for the Fulbe nomads of Nigeria

Abstract

The quest for better living standards for humanity has stimulated mass movement of people across the globe. This has created a nomadic culture and spurned the re-evaluation of housing conditions, environmental standards, and the ever-changing requirements of nomads. The Fulbe nomadic tribe of Nigeria are particularly at risk due to lack of basic social infrastructure. The temporary structures in which they reside lack structural stringency, material strength and climate adaptableness. Hence, current housing and living conditions of the Fulbe require comprehensive review. Consequently, the government in 1990 to address these challenges introduced the Nomadic Education Programme (NEP). In furtherance of its objectives, this paper proposes the introduction of retractable vault covered (RVC) housing as a practical, low cost and sustainable solution to the housing crises among the Fulbe. It presents a comprehensive review of potential buildings with RVCs, variable location or mobility and other kinetic architectural forms to address the housing needs of the Fulbe nomadic tribe of Nigeria. The findings of the study demonstrate that retractable vault covers (portable buildings) can provide structural rigidity, material durability and climate adaptability to the current housing and living conditions of the Fulbe.