Socially Sustainable Development

Designed by Jessica Gerna- Proposed Yam processing factory 

During my masters Program in Architecture, I did a study that focused on how to achieve socially sustainable developments in rural areas. The aim was to highlight the role of architecture in enhancing socially sustainable development, ensuring that the essence and identity of the rural communities in the context areas- Benue state Nigeria are preserved. The objective was to enlighten local farmers about regenerative farming systems that can transform their agricultural practices and provide them with social inclusion, to promote sustainable community resource management, to enhance a sense of community and ownership among the locales within the context area in Makurdi-Benue state and to identify appropriate sustainable architectural design strategies that can be used in the context area to achieve a sustainable rural development.The methodology used was qualitative research. Relevant data from literature and case studies where sourced and analysed. The essence of the context area was also identified during the site analysis. The study highlights that in other to achieve a sustainable rural development, a community has to manage its, natural, human and financial resources to meet present needs while ensuring that adequate resources are equitably available for future generations, a better quality of life for the whole community without compromising the wellbeing of other communities, healthy ecosystems, effective governance supported by meaningful and broad-based citizen participation and economic security. In conclusion the study highlights the concept of co-operativism and partnership as the stepping stone for rural sustainable development. From the data gathered during the site analysis appropriate concepts for a socially, economic and environmentally sustainable rural development are illustrated and implemented using suitable architectural sustainable design strategies for a food processing and recycling factory.