ABSTRACT
In Abuja, rapid urbanization over the years has left indigenous Gbagyi settlements neglected even in the presence of overwhelming development. This has left what is essentially a modern city with small pockets of underdeveloped areas all over the city. This poses not only a problem for the city as a whole but also the environment in which they are located. This also means that the inhabitants live in sub-standard conditions amidst environmental degradation. The study aims to propose an alternative solution to the relocation model currently in place by the government, to design a settlement that will meet the needs of the inhabitants while also maintaining the integrity of the environment. The research poses key questions of what principles will be relevant in achieving the desired aim and how can a stepwise process be formulated for the integration of said principles into a design proposal. As the study is mostly qualitative in nature, most data is collected through a questionnaire survey and key informant interviews. The research also uses the case study approach in studying the current state of the Gbagyi settlements. The research finds that many of the settlements under study face the mostly the same problems of under development and overcrowding. In some cases they also face the problem of misappropriated land use. In conclusion, the thesis outlines the process for the implementation of the design of Gbagyi housing settlements within the prevailing city identifying the framework through which it environmental sustainability principles can be integrated into a design. It culminates in a demonstration of how a selected settlement could be designed using the process outlined in the framework.