Igbo Indigenous Materials In Contemporary Architecture: A Critical Integrative Review

Abstract

This paper examines how Igbo indigenous material knowledge can inform contemporary architecture in Southeast Nigeria. A qualitative integrative review synthesised 25 works cited in the review corpus, published between 1969 and 2024, spanning Igbo architectural history, material science, environmental performance, standards and conservation. The available manuscript records did not preserve database search dates or hit counts; the review is therefore presented as a 
purposive, traceable synthesis rather than an exhaustive systematic search. The evidence indicates that lateritic earth, bamboo, timber, palm fibres, thatch, stone and natural finishes function as interdependent material systems. Their reported benefits—low processing, thermal moderation, renewability and repairability—are conditional on moisture control, grading, treatment, fire safety and maintenance. The paper contributes a six-part adaptation framework linking provenance, characterisation, climate-responsive assembly, cultural review, maintenance and whole-life verification. The framework is a design synthesis derived from recurring evidence and constraints, not a measured performance result. It supports tested hybrid assemblies that sustain cultural continuity while meeting contemporary technical requirements.