EXPLORING THE POTENTIALS OF RAMMED EARTH RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS USING GREEN ARCHITECTURE PRINCIPLES: A CASE STUDY OF FOPCHEN NETZERO CENTER ABUJA, FCT

The growing environmental cost of modern construction has placed urgent demand on the building industry to explore sustainable alternatives. In Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, the housing sector continues to rely heavily on energy intensive materials and methods, resulting in high emissions and limited affordability. In an effort to curtail the effects the construction industry has on our environment, sometimes the way forward is a step back—into the wisdom of the soil beneath our feet. This study therefore addresses the need for more sustainable, locally responsive solutions by exploring the potentials of Rammed Earth Residential Buildings (RERBs) as a viable model for eco-friendly housing. The aim of the research is to explore the potentials of rammed earth residential buildings using green architecture principles, a case study of FOPCHEN NETZERO Center Abuja, FCT. The research employed interpretivism philosophy with a case study as a strategy in collecting data through semi-structured interview with the architect behind the FOPCHEN NetZero Training Centre. In addition, observation and photography were applied as techniques in supplementing data. The findings revealed that RERBs offer significant advantages including reduced construction costs, enhanced thermal comfort, resource conservation, and deep alignment with green architecture principles. Moreover, the study affirms that with the right technical knowledge and policy support, rammed earth can offer a replicable model for climate-resilient, culturally rooted, and low-carbon housing in Nigeria. Pen-ultimately, this work calls for a rethinking of what sustainable architecture means in the Nigerian context—one that values not just efficiency, but ecological harmony, material honesty, and cultural continuity. Ultimately, the study concludes that rammed earth holds great promise for addressing climate-resilient and culturally rooted housing needs in Nigeria because, it offers a unique blend of affordability, ecological sensitivity, thermal efficiency, and cultural authenticity. Also, the study recommends increased awareness, technical training, and the creation of more robust and supportive policy frameworks to enable broader adoption of this environmentally responsible building technique.