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Papers by Ibrahim Girku

Conference Paper, 2019

A library is a facility that support the educational curriculum and research at any level of educ... more A library is a facility that support the educational curriculum and research at any level of education in institutions of learning at local, state and national scale. With the growing concern about and increasing interest in sustainable built environments around the globe, the agenda of academic libraries is also changing. Library buildings and space designs in Nigeria are rigid, too formal and trivialized nature in its articulation. The study assesses the need for adopting a new design philosophy for the redesign of Nigerian library buildings using biophilic features. This is with the view to catch up with high level international standards and also to negotiate with the traditional library buildings and space designs of Nigerian learning institutions which are energy consuming and thermally uncomfortable. The study methodology employed the case study approach to compare the extent to which some foreign libraries shift from the traditional paradigm to the Green architecture paradigm and the need for our local libraries to adopt this transforming world class approach. The paper looks at the features of biophilic architecture in relation to library building envelope, its surrounding and suggest ways they can be applied in the design and retrofitting of existing library buildings with the view to achieving sustainability by reducing researchers' fatigue and improving productivity through high concentration and assimilation. A need and users satisfactory survey was conducted in some Libraries in ABTI American University of Nigeria in Yola, Covenant University in Otta and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria. It was found out that absence of passive design elements increases carbon footprints through high energy demand for cooling and lighting of the building stocks.

Parks are integral components of living City System that was encouraged by authorities to increas... more Parks are integral components of living City System that was encouraged by authorities to increase the fitness and productivity of workers, reduce the occurrence of disease, and to try and provide an alternative to socially immoral activities-like theft, rape, drug dealing and using, illicit sex, murder, consumption of hard drinks, etcetera. This study examined the challenge of crime in Abuja Parks and the need for a change in Park design approach. Authority of Parks and Recreation Department were interviewed as regards the factors responsible for the types of crime in Abuja Parks and measures employed to minimize its occurrences. Park users were also surveyed as regards their perception of the factors responsible for the types of crime in Abuja Parks: presence of isolated and concealed areas, poor natural surveillance associated with absence of attraction, physical activities facilities and amenities, poor-to-no maintenance, poorto-absence of territorial reinforcement and access control resulting in high rate of illegal activities such as drug dealing and drug using to mention but a few. Our prediction reveals that the factors responsible for the types of crime associated with Abuja Parks were as a result of obsolete planning and design paradigm that fails to realign/adjust with the changing world, and increase in social vices as well as poor maintenance culture which gives such oasis its current image. However, Park users shows indication of crimes to be a major challenge that affects effective patronage of such public realms in the Federal Capital City (FCC) -Abuja, and poorto-no maintenance culture. This suggests that the challenge of crime in Abuja Parks was design based issue that is beyond remedial measures as taken by the Department of Parks and Recreation, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja Management Agency.

Conference Presentations by Ibrahim Girku

In Proceedings of the 6th International Federation of Landscape Architects Africa (IFLA-Africa) Symposium, UTICA Centre Tunis, Tunisia, 2019

The growth of urban infrastructure in cities usually increases impermeable surfaces (roads, pavem... more The growth of urban infrastructure in cities usually increases impermeable surfaces (roads, pavements and concrete decking's) thereby reducing natural areas and infiltration rate. This study assessed the principles of ecological urbanism in light of the challenges of Urban Heat Island (UHI) in the Federal Capital City (FCC), Abuja. In recent years the FCC, Abuja as been experiencing significant spatial expansion, making it arguably one of the fastest-growing city in Africa this comes with its associated high population and increased anthropogenic stressors on natural systems that provides valued ecosystem services. The high temperature in the built-up area of the city is a major cause of discomfort to humans in the urban built-up areas in the dry season where average temperatures can reach as high as 36.8 and 36.9 o C in February and March respectively. The apparent departure from the Abuja master plan vision of creating a "Garden City", notably the fragmentation and general degradation of ecological functions, alterations of surface area, weak landscape/planning institution to enforce compliance of landscape development on a performance basis, growing emission of carbon dioxide (Co2) intensified by the highly automobile structured city morphology are underlying micro contributors to UHI experienced in the FCC, Abuja. Other macro contributors were also considered with a need for further research, relating to the geospatial attributes of the location of the FCC Abuja particularly Terrain and digital elevation model was assessed to explain the broader macro phenomena at play responsible for the relatively higher ambient temperature experienced in the FCC and surrounding settlement with similar geospatial attributes. The degree of land use cover changes in the city over the years compering the Abuja Master Plan document and Land use land cover map of the city was used in correlation with Metrological daily temperature data of the city obtained from the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMet) Abuja covering a period from 1980 to 2014(31years). The analysis of the results showed a decrease in average maximum temperature but an increase in the average minimum temperature which is indicative of heat-trapping. The changes noted in the land use cover analysis also explains the apparent rise in surface temperature in the city due to the increased pervious surfaces resulting in human discomfort and contributing to the rise in ambient air temperature during the day. The study goes on to highlight sustainable approaches to mitigating the effect of UHI with solutions that are contextual and tropical. This is with the view to awake the loss vision of the Abuja master plan through adopting principles of ecological urbanism green approaches such as green networks, high albedo materials, impervious pavements, water features for city evaporative cooling, conservation of ecosystems services and biophilic design of buildings among others. Broader landscape geospatial macro attributes should be properly assessed in the situation and planning of future cites, and an ecological urbanism framework is recommended to replace the existing planning development control approach and management of the FCC Abuja.

In Proceedings of the 4th National Conference of the Society of Landscape Architects of Nigeria (SLAN), Abuja, Nigeria, 26th April 2019, 2019

Sustainability is aimed at bringing a better understanding of the interrelated nature of human po... more Sustainability is aimed at bringing a better understanding of the interrelated nature of human policy, decisions and actions, and our environment. The success of community orientated Sustainability initiatives is largely dependent on its ability to address the concern and wellbeing of people and how that is communicated in a way that gains acceptance and participation by the host community. Central to the enquiry set out by this study is the growing Social disconnection which has caused a decline in community engagement to address developmental concerns. This Alienation common to urban and informal communities was observed in the study area resulting in the neglect of community base stewardship actions commonly carried out some decades ago. The community Garden a community base Landscape initiative was proposed. Community gardens are socio-ecological initiative that combines science education, civic participation and ecological restoration manifesting in community empowerment and development. It takes advantage of a shared community space where residents can raise awareness about social concerns and needs and to engage both citizens and community partners to plan and act in response to these needs and for improving the well-being of the whole community. Qualitative and quantitative method was used for the collection of data. The instruments used were; visual survey and assessment, selected interview, geo-spatial mapping tools for Base map production and preliminary design concept generation. The paper highlighted the communities need for the proposed initiative in light of the apparent challenges that require a restoration of collective engagement to address community concerns

Thesis Chapters by Ibrahim Girku

Masters Thesis, 2015

This study examines the factors responsible for crime and the perception of safety in parks as we... more This study examines the factors responsible for crime and the perception of safety in parks as well as how it affects the effective patronage of such public realms by users. The study reviewed literatures relevant to the issue of crime in public places specifically parks. The literature identified the specific factor responsible for crime in Parks; type of crimes and the Principle of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), which are surveillance; territorial reinforcement; access control, quality of the space and milieu. The design strategies associated with these principles were also studied. These principles were translated into basic design strategies which includes ensuring clear sight line; provision of adequate lighting; minimization of concealed and isolated areas; eliminating entrapment spots; promotion of land use-mix; introduction of activity generators; creating a sense of ownership through maintenance; reduction of isolation; provision of information signage; and improvement of the overall design of the Park. The study adopts the case study approach to examine the cases of crime in parks in Abuja, cutting across from City Park through to Neighbourhood Park using the case study approach. The principal finding is that crimes exists in all the parks but at varying level despite remedial measures put in place by the Parks and Recreation Department. The CPTED basic design strategies were carefully applied in the redesign of Berger Park, Abuja to serve as baseline guidelines for designing out crime in the Park.

Conference Paper, 2019

A library is a facility that support the educational curriculum and research at any level of educ... more A library is a facility that support the educational curriculum and research at any level of education in institutions of learning at local, state and national scale. With the growing concern about and increasing interest in sustainable built environments around the globe, the agenda of academic libraries is also changing. Library buildings and space designs in Nigeria are rigid, too formal and trivialized nature in its articulation. The study assesses the need for adopting a new design philosophy for the redesign of Nigerian library buildings using biophilic features. This is with the view to catch up with high level international standards and also to negotiate with the traditional library buildings and space designs of Nigerian learning institutions which are energy consuming and thermally uncomfortable. The study methodology employed the case study approach to compare the extent to which some foreign libraries shift from the traditional paradigm to the Green architecture paradigm and the need for our local libraries to adopt this transforming world class approach. The paper looks at the features of biophilic architecture in relation to library building envelope, its surrounding and suggest ways they can be applied in the design and retrofitting of existing library buildings with the view to achieving sustainability by reducing researchers' fatigue and improving productivity through high concentration and assimilation. A need and users satisfactory survey was conducted in some Libraries in ABTI American University of Nigeria in Yola, Covenant University in Otta and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria. It was found out that absence of passive design elements increases carbon footprints through high energy demand for cooling and lighting of the building stocks.

Parks are integral components of living City System that was encouraged by authorities to increas... more Parks are integral components of living City System that was encouraged by authorities to increase the fitness and productivity of workers, reduce the occurrence of disease, and to try and provide an alternative to socially immoral activities-like theft, rape, drug dealing and using, illicit sex, murder, consumption of hard drinks, etcetera. This study examined the challenge of crime in Abuja Parks and the need for a change in Park design approach. Authority of Parks and Recreation Department were interviewed as regards the factors responsible for the types of crime in Abuja Parks and measures employed to minimize its occurrences. Park users were also surveyed as regards their perception of the factors responsible for the types of crime in Abuja Parks: presence of isolated and concealed areas, poor natural surveillance associated with absence of attraction, physical activities facilities and amenities, poor-to-no maintenance, poorto-absence of territorial reinforcement and access control resulting in high rate of illegal activities such as drug dealing and drug using to mention but a few. Our prediction reveals that the factors responsible for the types of crime associated with Abuja Parks were as a result of obsolete planning and design paradigm that fails to realign/adjust with the changing world, and increase in social vices as well as poor maintenance culture which gives such oasis its current image. However, Park users shows indication of crimes to be a major challenge that affects effective patronage of such public realms in the Federal Capital City (FCC) -Abuja, and poorto-no maintenance culture. This suggests that the challenge of crime in Abuja Parks was design based issue that is beyond remedial measures as taken by the Department of Parks and Recreation, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja Management Agency.

In Proceedings of the 6th International Federation of Landscape Architects Africa (IFLA-Africa) Symposium, UTICA Centre Tunis, Tunisia, 2019

The growth of urban infrastructure in cities usually increases impermeable surfaces (roads, pavem... more The growth of urban infrastructure in cities usually increases impermeable surfaces (roads, pavements and concrete decking's) thereby reducing natural areas and infiltration rate. This study assessed the principles of ecological urbanism in light of the challenges of Urban Heat Island (UHI) in the Federal Capital City (FCC), Abuja. In recent years the FCC, Abuja as been experiencing significant spatial expansion, making it arguably one of the fastest-growing city in Africa this comes with its associated high population and increased anthropogenic stressors on natural systems that provides valued ecosystem services. The high temperature in the built-up area of the city is a major cause of discomfort to humans in the urban built-up areas in the dry season where average temperatures can reach as high as 36.8 and 36.9 o C in February and March respectively. The apparent departure from the Abuja master plan vision of creating a "Garden City", notably the fragmentation and general degradation of ecological functions, alterations of surface area, weak landscape/planning institution to enforce compliance of landscape development on a performance basis, growing emission of carbon dioxide (Co2) intensified by the highly automobile structured city morphology are underlying micro contributors to UHI experienced in the FCC, Abuja. Other macro contributors were also considered with a need for further research, relating to the geospatial attributes of the location of the FCC Abuja particularly Terrain and digital elevation model was assessed to explain the broader macro phenomena at play responsible for the relatively higher ambient temperature experienced in the FCC and surrounding settlement with similar geospatial attributes. The degree of land use cover changes in the city over the years compering the Abuja Master Plan document and Land use land cover map of the city was used in correlation with Metrological daily temperature data of the city obtained from the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMet) Abuja covering a period from 1980 to 2014(31years). The analysis of the results showed a decrease in average maximum temperature but an increase in the average minimum temperature which is indicative of heat-trapping. The changes noted in the land use cover analysis also explains the apparent rise in surface temperature in the city due to the increased pervious surfaces resulting in human discomfort and contributing to the rise in ambient air temperature during the day. The study goes on to highlight sustainable approaches to mitigating the effect of UHI with solutions that are contextual and tropical. This is with the view to awake the loss vision of the Abuja master plan through adopting principles of ecological urbanism green approaches such as green networks, high albedo materials, impervious pavements, water features for city evaporative cooling, conservation of ecosystems services and biophilic design of buildings among others. Broader landscape geospatial macro attributes should be properly assessed in the situation and planning of future cites, and an ecological urbanism framework is recommended to replace the existing planning development control approach and management of the FCC Abuja.

In Proceedings of the 4th National Conference of the Society of Landscape Architects of Nigeria (SLAN), Abuja, Nigeria, 26th April 2019, 2019

Sustainability is aimed at bringing a better understanding of the interrelated nature of human po... more Sustainability is aimed at bringing a better understanding of the interrelated nature of human policy, decisions and actions, and our environment. The success of community orientated Sustainability initiatives is largely dependent on its ability to address the concern and wellbeing of people and how that is communicated in a way that gains acceptance and participation by the host community. Central to the enquiry set out by this study is the growing Social disconnection which has caused a decline in community engagement to address developmental concerns. This Alienation common to urban and informal communities was observed in the study area resulting in the neglect of community base stewardship actions commonly carried out some decades ago. The community Garden a community base Landscape initiative was proposed. Community gardens are socio-ecological initiative that combines science education, civic participation and ecological restoration manifesting in community empowerment and development. It takes advantage of a shared community space where residents can raise awareness about social concerns and needs and to engage both citizens and community partners to plan and act in response to these needs and for improving the well-being of the whole community. Qualitative and quantitative method was used for the collection of data. The instruments used were; visual survey and assessment, selected interview, geo-spatial mapping tools for Base map production and preliminary design concept generation. The paper highlighted the communities need for the proposed initiative in light of the apparent challenges that require a restoration of collective engagement to address community concerns

Masters Thesis, 2015

This study examines the factors responsible for crime and the perception of safety in parks as we... more This study examines the factors responsible for crime and the perception of safety in parks as well as how it affects the effective patronage of such public realms by users. The study reviewed literatures relevant to the issue of crime in public places specifically parks. The literature identified the specific factor responsible for crime in Parks; type of crimes and the Principle of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), which are surveillance; territorial reinforcement; access control, quality of the space and milieu. The design strategies associated with these principles were also studied. These principles were translated into basic design strategies which includes ensuring clear sight line; provision of adequate lighting; minimization of concealed and isolated areas; eliminating entrapment spots; promotion of land use-mix; introduction of activity generators; creating a sense of ownership through maintenance; reduction of isolation; provision of information signage; and improvement of the overall design of the Park. The study adopts the case study approach to examine the cases of crime in parks in Abuja, cutting across from City Park through to Neighbourhood Park using the case study approach. The principal finding is that crimes exists in all the parks but at varying level despite remedial measures put in place by the Parks and Recreation Department. The CPTED basic design strategies were carefully applied in the redesign of Berger Park, Abuja to serve as baseline guidelines for designing out crime in the Park.