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Oluwakemi Oriowo

About me

Oluwakemi Oriowo is a researcher and architect whose work focuses on the intersection of organisational culture and the built environment.

As a doctoral researcher at Newcastle University, she has conducted a multi-generational qualitative study exploring the culture of architectural practice in Nigeria, with case studies from architectural firms in Lagos.

Her research provides an in-depth analysis of how this professional culture, shaped by unique local factors, influences the process and delivery of architectural services.

With a background working in architectural practice in Lagos, her work is grounded in both professional experience and rigorous academic theory.

She welcomes opportunities for collaboration and is interested in bridging the gap between academic research and professional practice.

Project Title

Exploring the Influence of Culture on the Actualised Design in Architecture Practice in Nigeria: With Reference to Selected Architectural Firms in Lagos

Project Description

This qualitative study of eleven architectural firms in Lagos (1955-2020) examines how practice culture influences service delivery.

It finds that cultural drivers, such as a client-driven context and a "validation vacuum," have primarily influenced and professionalised the process of service delivery.

Abstract

This thesis examines the culture of architectural firms and its influence on the services provided in Nigeria, addressing a significant gap in the study of organisational culture within the architecture profession.

The research objective stems from the necessity of industry-specific insights into the relationship between values, traditions, behaviour, and their impact on outcomes. While the literature shows the significance of organisational culture in shaping professional practices, evidence from the Nigerian context remains sparse.

This research addresses key underexplored questions, including: what is the culture of architectural firms? and how does culture influence the services they provide? Drawing from an extensive literature review, the study develops an analytical framework that outlines the composition of organisational culture, the contingencies influencing firms, and their interconnections with services offered by firms.

Adopting an interpretive approach, the study employs a qualitative, multiple case study of eleven architectural firms in Lagos, Nigeria, across three distinct generational groups (1955-2020). Data was gathered through semi-structured in-depth interviews, observations, and digital media, and analysed using template analysis. 

The findings reveal a clear trajectory from a monolithic “pioneering founder practice” model in the first generation, through a transitional phase of professionalisation, to a highly diversified landscape of contemporary practices.

The analysis demonstrates how a consistent set of significant, interacting forces, most notably a fundamentally client-driven context, a persistent “validation vacuum” in the professional awards scene, and an enduring “mentorship mandate”, have shaped the firms’ operational structures, market strategies, and core values.

A key argument of this thesis is that the profound development in the firms’ internal culture has primarily influenced the process of service delivery rather than the stylistic outcome of that service.

The study demonstrates that the cultural development has been channelled into creating more professional, strategic, and resilient organisations capable of delivering a reliable service in a complex environment, while the architectural style has shown remarkable continuity.

This research contributes to knowledge by developing a new, emergent conceptual framework for understanding architectural practice in the Nigerian context. It proposes a new typology of practice models and identifies the core cultural drivers specific to the Nigerian professional landscape. In doing so, this thesis has not only answered its core research questions but also provides a robust foundation for future research into this vital and evolving field."

Supervisors

Qualifications

  • Master of Environmental Design (M.E.D) University of Lagos, Nigeria
  • Bachelor of Technology (Hons) in Architecture Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Nigeria  

Funding

Newcastle University Overseas Research Scholarship (NUORS)

Conference papers and publications

  • Oriowo, O. and Kamara, J. (2025). ‘The Culture of Practice: How the Organisational Culture of Architectural Firms Influences Sustainable Urban Development in Lagos, Nigeria’. Paper to be presented at the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2025). Lille, France, 3-5 November.
  • Wusu, G., Alaka, H., Oseghale, R., and Oriowo, O. (2024). ‘A State-of-the-Art Review of Offsite Construction Adoption Within the UK Construction Industry: The RIBA-Plan of Work Perspective’. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024). Auckland, New Zealand, 7–9 November.
  • Wusu, G., Alaka, H., Oseghale, R., Yusuf, W., Sunmonu, F., Ajayi, S., Oriowo, O., and Akinyemi, B. (2024). ‘Effectively Transiting from Traditional Construction Method to Offsite Construction Through Robust Data Management Repository: Implications for Wider OSC Approach and Adoption’. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024). Auckland, New Zealand, 7–9 November.

Contact

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