Design professionals’ awareness and engagement in design for adaptability (DfA) practices

Purpose Design issues are one of the factors contributing to waste production in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI). Design for adaptability (DfA) is a construction approach that provides buildings with adaptive capabilities during the design phase. It facilitates easy modification, with no or limited demolition, waste reduction, sustainable construction and circularity. However, as to whether design professionals operating in the GCI are aware of this concept and its benefits and whether they consider some of its practices in the designs they produce are something that is yet to be ascertained. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the awareness and engagement of DfA practices among design professionals in the GCI. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a quantitative research approach to retrieve responses from 236 design professionals (i.e. architects and civil/structural engineers) via survey questionnaires. The data retrieved from the respondents were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tests. Findings The findings revealed that the design professionals were moderately aware of the concept of DfA. Notwithstanding this moderate level of awareness, the design professionals’ frequency of engagement in DfA practices was high, and factors such as profession, experience and type of firms they worked in, among others, did not influence their level of engagement in DfA practices. Originality/value This study pioneers research on DfA implementation in the GCI. It highlights design professionals’ awareness and engagement in adaptability practices, thereby revealing gaps in knowledge, encouraging sustainable design and promoting resilience in architecture, which could ultimately contribute to a future-proofing built environment in Ghana.