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PetitHaus: Innovative housing solution that helps low/medium income earners access affordable, highly efficient qualitative living with convenience and unparalleled cost effectiveness.
SNEAK PEEK
For years, my neighbours referred to me as ‘the powerbike guy’ because they knew nothing about me or what I do for a living. For anyone who lives in the town or village, this will be strange, however, to fellow Lagosians, it's ‘standard setting’. It's “all man for himself”
At PetitHaus, our vision is rooted in the belief that homeownership should not only be accessible and affordable but also foster a deep sense of community and sustainability. As we reflect on the ways the traditional villages have historically operated, it’s clear that there are valuable lessons we can apply to modern developments in Nigeria.
This blog post explores how we can incorporate the ideals of the village into a modern framework for our city planning, to not just create homes, but vibrant, connected communities. Truly inclusive and sustainable communities.
In many countries today, neighbourhoods are often created by developers and bankers with a focus on profit, not people. The same can be said for Nigerian urban areas, where housing developments rarely prioritise communal spaces or holistic living.
Villages, on the other hand, are designed by the people who live in them, fostering high levels of participation and public health. This active engagement creates a powerful sense of agency, something PetitHaus aims to restore for young Nigerians through our affordable co-ownership model.
The village is built by the villagers, who create spaces the way they want & how they desire to live in, where their voices are heard, and their needs are met.
It’s become imperative to challenge this ‘commoditized’ model and rethink what it means to live in a community. Rather than seeing homes as commodities to be bought, sold, and cashed out, we can apply the village model where housing is created to meet the needs of the people, thus encouraging collaboration and support.
Here's how to Designing City Neighbourhoods Like Villages.
One of the key elements missing in many modern neighbourhoods is a ’village commons’—a central gathering space that belongs to everyone. The market square, under the oak tree, the street playground, or the public stream are common examples. In villages, such spaces are crucial for building a community, where everyone feels they belong.
Creating common areas where residents can meet, share, and collaborate, is necessary to rebuild the sense of togetherness in urban areas. Imagine a community where every block has a shared garden, a playground, or a community centre—places that encourage residents to connect and support one another.
Similarly, creating footpaths or pathways that link homes to these central spaces is crucial. A dynamic environment that involves but is not limited to ‘shortcuts’, curves, and landscaping elements that encourage residents to move through their community.
These pathways connect each home to shared spaces, promoting not only physical activity (necessary for well-being) but also opportunities for spontaneous interactions, much like you’d find in a traditional village.
When you buy property in Lagos for example, you’re not just paying for the house—you’re also shouldering the cost of essential infrastructure that developers are forced to provide themselves. Roads, electricity, and water supplies are often non-existent in new developments.
In villages, it's common to share resources like water (even food), and this principle can be applied to modern urban living. By integrating co-ownership, we enable residents to collectively steward their environment. Imagine a neighbourhood where rainwater is collected from all rooftops and used to sustain communal gardens, reducing water waste and creating a more sustainable ecosystem.
A variant of these shared amenities and resources—whether it’s road, waste distribution, or shared power systems, the goal is to help residents reduce costs and environmental impact by pooling resources. This not only makes homeownership more affordable but also creates opportunities for collaboration and interdependence, strengthening the bonds between neighbours.
Another essential lesson from villages is the integration of nature into daily life. In many urban neighbourhoods, green spaces are limited, and residents are disconnected from nature. Our cities can change this by incorporating urban agriculture and green spaces into every development.
Whether it’s small community gardens, food forests, or simple benches under shade trees, the goal will be to bring nature back into urban environments, creating spaces where residents can relax, grow food even, and interact with the natural world.
This approach not only enhances the beauty of the neighbourhood but also provides practical benefits such as improved air quality, better mental health, and a greater sense of well-being.
Additionally, by encouraging practices like urban farming, we will empower residents to become more self-sufficient, reducing their reliance on external food systems and creating a more resilient community.
The beauty of embracing the village model is that it empowers people. For too long, many Nigerians have lived like mere consumers, defined by their jobs, bank accounts, or possessions. But when we start to reshape our neighbourhoods into vibrant, connected spaces, we reclaim our sense of agency. We move from passive occupants to active creators of our environment.
Incorporating the traditional village model offers a powerful framework for rethinking homeownership, one that prioritizes people over profit, sustainability over short-term gain, and community over isolation.
What we’re doing at PetitHaus is redefining what it means to own a home. Beyond having a roof over your head—it’s about being part of a community, one that contributes to the well-being of every member, and helps you live in harmony with the environment.
Our #1000HomesBy2030 target is in line with making this vision a reality for Nigerians across all income levels, starting small but thinking big.
Join us in creating the future of homeownership—one that is inclusive, sustainable, and deeply connected to the values of community.
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