Patterns and sustainability implications of emergent vertical urbanism in a traditional African city

African cities are increasingly witnessing a growing trend of vertical urbanism, driven by rapid urbanization, often in conflict with urban heritage, planning regulations, and the sustainability of existing built environment. This study critically investigates the patterns and sustainability implications of vertical growth in Kano city, Nigeria, and how it reshapes the city’s traditional morphology. Unlike multi-city analyses that rely predominantly on spatial data analytics, this research provides a more granular, localized perspective. This study employed a mixed-methods design, including content analysis of historic documents and maps, fieldwork, key informant interviews, and a questionnaire survey targeting households residing within a 200-meter radius of newly developed multi-storey buildings. The findings reveal that 64.3% of these buildings exceed the maximum permitted heights, resulting in the obstruction of sunlight and natural ventilation, elevated interior warming, and infringing on the privacy of residents of traditional courtyard homes. Moreover, the increasing approval of verticalized structures by the planning authorities threatens the preservation of traditional urban scenic values and urban cultural heritage, thus undermining the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11. The paper recommends a collaborative planning approach involving planning authorities, local communities, and developers to foster inclusive pathways that enable the co-existence of traditional with verticalized urban forms in a mutually reinforcing manner.