Thematic Approach into Passive Design Optimisation and CSEBS Adoption among Builders in South-Western States of Nigeria

Purpose: This paper examines the extent to which passive design optimization and the adoption of Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEBs) have permeated building practice in South-Western Nigeria, and critically interrogates the technical, institutional, and logistical barriers that constrain wider uptake. Methodology: Employing a qualitative, thematic approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight senior building professionals (architects, civil engineers and builders) purposively sampled across the six states of the geo-political zone; interview data were transcribed, coded and synthesized into themes to reveal patterns of awareness, practice and constraint. Findings: The study finds near-universal awareness and routine deployment of passive design strategies (orientation, shading, ventilation, daylighting, thermal mass and insulation) among experienced practitioners, yet CSEBs—while recognized for their environmental and cost advantages—face clustered obstacles: unclear production standards, durability and dimensional concerns, curing and transport logistics, limited applicability to high-rise loads, and skills gaps that invite workmanship failures. These barriers act as socio-technical bottlenecks that slow diffusion despite favorable perceptions. Originality: In juxtaposing passive design optimization with on-the-ground realities of CSEB manufacture and use, this research bridges a gap in region-specific empirical evidence. It also advances a policy-relevant argument that scaling CSEB adoption requires coordinated standardization, targeted capacity building, appropriate site selection, and regulatory advocacy—measures that can unlock low-carbon, resilient housing pathways in tropical contexts.