Authors :
Kelvin Ojong Etengeneng Oneke; Makomra Valentine; Ngome Johnson Ngome
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 7 - July
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/5fpezrny
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/4p2ubaps
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jul1049
Note : A published paper may take 4-5
working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and
ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Rapid urbanization and increasing university enrolment have intensified the demand for quality student accommodation in many Sub-Saharan African cities. In Yaoundé, Cameroon, the Bonas neighborhood surrounding the University of Yaoundé I has evolved into a dense informal student settlement characterized by overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, insecurity, and limited public infrastructure. These conditions negatively affect students’ academic performance, well-being, and quality of life while contributing to unplanned urban growth. This study proposes a sustainable multipurpose student housing complex as an integrated architectural response to these challenges. Using site analysis, precedent studies, user needs assessment, and contextual architectural design methods, the project develops a mixed-use housing model that integrates residential accommodation with academic support spaces, commercial facilities, recreational areas, green public spaces, and community infrastructure. The design adopts passive environmental strategies, biophilic principles, flexible spatial organization, and sustainable urban planning concepts to improve environmental performance and social interaction. The proposed development demonstrates how student housing can function not only as residential infrastructure but also as a catalyst for urban regeneration, improved pedestrian connectivity, enhanced community integration, and sustainable neighborhood development. The study highlights the potential of integrated student housing as a scalable urban development strategy for rapidly growing university cities in Cameroon and other Sub-Saharan African countries.
Keywords :
Urban Housing, Student Housing, Sustainable Architecture, Urban Regeneration, Mixed-Use Development, Student Well-Being
References :
- Bah, I., & Teguia Kenmegne, R. L. (2025). Normative Pluralism and Socio-Environmental Vulnerability in Cameroon: A Literature Review of Urban Land Policy Issues and Challenges. Urban Science, 9(6), 219. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9060219
- Etta, O. O., Tiafack, O., & Diang, T. K. (2025). Social and Environmental Vulberabilty of the Urban Poor: Evidences from Yaounde Center Region of Cameroon. Saudi Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 10(05), 214–223. https://doi.org/10.36348/sjhss.2025.v10i05.003
- Franz, Y., & Gruber, E. (2022). The Changing Role of Student Housing as Social Infrastructure. Urban Planning, 7(4). https://doi.org/10.17645/up.v7i4.5661
- Lai, N., & Tran, P. (2024). Integrating sustainable urban development and student housing to enhance urban social welfare case study: Ho Chi Minh City). International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management, (Online First). https://doi.org/10.22034/IJHCUM.2025.02.09
- Maluh, N. (2024). Urban Housing Practices of Policy Implementation in Bamenda, Cameroon. Urban and Regional Planning, 9(3), 112–121. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20240903.15
- Nkwemoh C., A., & Tchindjang, M. (2018). Urban Sprawl And Agriculture: A Case Study Of The Yaounde Metropolis (Cameroon). https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.1215911
- Oben, E. E. E., & Ndi, H. N. (2014). Urbanisation and Market Growth Trends in the Yaounde Metropolis. Journal of Geography and Geology, 6(3), p203. https://doi.org/10.5539/jgg.v6n3p203
- O’Brien, P., & Pike, A. (2015). ‘The governance of local infrastructure funding and financing.’ Infrastructure Complexity, 2(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40551-015-0007-6
- Olanrewaju, S., Garba, G., & Onigbogi, O. (2022). A Review on Students’ Housing in Nigerian Universities. LAUTECH Journal of Civil and Environmental Studies, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.36108/laujoces/2202.90.0150
- Zainal, N. Z., & Hosni, N. (2022). Effects of Urban Built Environment on Mental Health: A Review. Journal of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, 8(1), 30–48. https://doi.org/10.33736/jcshd.4398.2022
Rapid urbanization and increasing university enrolment have intensified the demand for quality student accommodation in many Sub-Saharan African cities. In Yaoundé, Cameroon, the Bonas neighborhood surrounding the University of Yaoundé I has evolved into a dense informal student settlement characterized by overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, insecurity, and limited public infrastructure. These conditions negatively affect students’ academic performance, well-being, and quality of life while contributing to unplanned urban growth. This study proposes a sustainable multipurpose student housing complex as an integrated architectural response to these challenges. Using site analysis, precedent studies, user needs assessment, and contextual architectural design methods, the project develops a mixed-use housing model that integrates residential accommodation with academic support spaces, commercial facilities, recreational areas, green public spaces, and community infrastructure. The design adopts passive environmental strategies, biophilic principles, flexible spatial organization, and sustainable urban planning concepts to improve environmental performance and social interaction. The proposed development demonstrates how student housing can function not only as residential infrastructure but also as a catalyst for urban regeneration, improved pedestrian connectivity, enhanced community integration, and sustainable neighborhood development. The study highlights the potential of integrated student housing as a scalable urban development strategy for rapidly growing university cities in Cameroon and other Sub-Saharan African countries.
Keywords :
Urban Housing, Student Housing, Sustainable Architecture, Urban Regeneration, Mixed-Use Development, Student Well-Being
