Urban morphology dynamics and environmental change in Kano, Nigeria

In recent years, a critical understanding of human-nature interactions has become central to studies exploring the dynamics of urban morphology and the sustainability of growing cities in the developing world. Accordingly, numerous scholars have employed the coupled human and natural systems (CHANS)...

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Main Authors: Barau, Aliyu Salisu, Maconachie, Roy A., Muhamad Ludin, Ahmad Nazri, Abdulhamid, Adnan
Format: Article
Published: Elsevier Limited 2015
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Online Access:http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/55894/
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.08.007
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Institution: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
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spelling my.utm.558942017-08-25T05:38:56Z http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/55894/ Urban morphology dynamics and environmental change in Kano, Nigeria Barau, Aliyu Salisu Maconachie, Roy A. Muhamad Ludin, Ahmad Nazri Abdulhamid, Adnan TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) In recent years, a critical understanding of human-nature interactions has become central to studies exploring the dynamics of urban morphology and the sustainability of growing cities in the developing world. Accordingly, numerous scholars have employed the coupled human and natural systems (CHANS) framework as a tool for understanding how cities are evolving in times of profound global change. Focusing on the case of Kano, northern Nigeria's largest city, this paper explores the potential of the CHANS framework in the analysis and interpretation of the human-nature interface in cities of the global south. Drawing on the qualitative analysis of graphic information and classical and contemporary literature, the centuries-old spatial morphology of Kano is traced and analysed. In the process, the paper highlights how change in the roles of traditional institutions of urban land administration have triggered the degeneration of the city's resilient indigenous urban morphology. Field investigations and the analysis of a variety of 19th, 20th and, 21st century images reveal significant change in the city's traditional building materials, roofing styles, street forms, distribution of ponds, and green and open spaces. Population pressure on urban land has also been a major driving force behind the unfolding changes. One catastrophic outcome of these changes has been the exacerbation of recurrent floods. In drawing attention to wider lessons for urban planners in other developing country contexts, the paper stresses the need to analyse any notable spatial and non-spatial events in cities in relation to the changing dynamics of urban morphology. Elsevier Limited 2015-01 Article PeerReviewed Barau, Aliyu Salisu and Maconachie, Roy A. and Muhamad Ludin, Ahmad Nazri and Abdulhamid, Adnan (2015) Urban morphology dynamics and environmental change in Kano, Nigeria. Land Use Policy, 42 . pp. 307-317. ISSN 0264-8377 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.08.007 DOI:10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.08.007
institution Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
building UTM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
content_source UTM Institutional Repository
url_provider http://eprints.utm.my/
topic TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
spellingShingle TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Barau, Aliyu Salisu
Maconachie, Roy A.
Muhamad Ludin, Ahmad Nazri
Abdulhamid, Adnan
Urban morphology dynamics and environmental change in Kano, Nigeria
description In recent years, a critical understanding of human-nature interactions has become central to studies exploring the dynamics of urban morphology and the sustainability of growing cities in the developing world. Accordingly, numerous scholars have employed the coupled human and natural systems (CHANS) framework as a tool for understanding how cities are evolving in times of profound global change. Focusing on the case of Kano, northern Nigeria's largest city, this paper explores the potential of the CHANS framework in the analysis and interpretation of the human-nature interface in cities of the global south. Drawing on the qualitative analysis of graphic information and classical and contemporary literature, the centuries-old spatial morphology of Kano is traced and analysed. In the process, the paper highlights how change in the roles of traditional institutions of urban land administration have triggered the degeneration of the city's resilient indigenous urban morphology. Field investigations and the analysis of a variety of 19th, 20th and, 21st century images reveal significant change in the city's traditional building materials, roofing styles, street forms, distribution of ponds, and green and open spaces. Population pressure on urban land has also been a major driving force behind the unfolding changes. One catastrophic outcome of these changes has been the exacerbation of recurrent floods. In drawing attention to wider lessons for urban planners in other developing country contexts, the paper stresses the need to analyse any notable spatial and non-spatial events in cities in relation to the changing dynamics of urban morphology.
format Article
author Barau, Aliyu Salisu
Maconachie, Roy A.
Muhamad Ludin, Ahmad Nazri
Abdulhamid, Adnan
author_facet Barau, Aliyu Salisu
Maconachie, Roy A.
Muhamad Ludin, Ahmad Nazri
Abdulhamid, Adnan
author_sort Barau, Aliyu Salisu
title Urban morphology dynamics and environmental change in Kano, Nigeria
title_short Urban morphology dynamics and environmental change in Kano, Nigeria
title_full Urban morphology dynamics and environmental change in Kano, Nigeria
title_fullStr Urban morphology dynamics and environmental change in Kano, Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Urban morphology dynamics and environmental change in Kano, Nigeria
title_sort urban morphology dynamics and environmental change in kano, nigeria
publisher Elsevier Limited
publishDate 2015
url http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/55894/
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.08.007
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