Dr Theophilus Shittu

Dr Theophilus A. Shittu is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for the BSc Architectural Technology at the University of Northampton.

Dr Shittu holds a UNESCO Chair in Earthen Architecture, Building Cultures and Sustainable Development. He is also a member of the scientific committe of the International Scientific Committee on Conservation of Earthen Architectural Heritage (ISCEAH). He was elected as member of the board of trustees of ISCEAH in November 2023.

At the University of Northampton, Dr Shittu is a member of the Centre for Sustainable Futures (CSF) and Centre for Advanced Smart Technologies (CAST).

Dr Shittu received his architecture degrees (BSc and MSc) from the Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria, DSA (MPhil) in Earthen Architecture and Sustainable Development from Grenoble School of Architecture (École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Grenoble) France and a PhD from the University of Plymouth. His doctoral research was on sustainable retrofitting of adobe building.

Dr Shittu’s research centred on sustainable built environment. The aim of his research is to maximise exiting built stock through sustainable conservation, adaptation, repurposing, refurbishment and restoration of built heritage. Dr Shittu is also interest in low carbon design and adoption of appropriate technologies for new built, as well as sustainable settlement with emphasis on smart cities, adaptive and resilient settlements.

Key areas of research area

• Sustainable architectural conservation
• Sustainable building adaptation, repurposing and refurbishment
• Architecture and migration
• Sustainable housing
• Smart cities
• Climate resilient settlement

Recent collaboration-Conservation of historic earth Building:

Dr Shittu collaborated with members of International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in Nigeria to carry out conservation of the St Bartholomew Church, Wusasa, Zaria, Nigeria. This is a 100-year-old church building that is in the tentative list of Nigeria’s national monument list. Dr Shittu provided the technical expertise that ensured that the building was restored to international standard using locally resources.

Dr Shittu is available for research degree (PhD, MPhil and MRes) supervision.

Teaching Subjects

Dr Shittu has led or leads in the delivery of the following modules at the University of Northampton:

• 3DD4019 Final Major Project
• 3DD3050 Research and Project Design for Architectural Technologists
• 3DD2081 Technical Architectural Design 2
• 3DD2080 Technical Architectural design 1
• 3DD2068 Design, Specification and Production Information
• 3DD2067 Practice Regulations and Convention in Architecture
• 3DD1060 Architectural Design
• 3DD1059 Principles of Technical Design in Architecture
• 3DD1058 The Architectural Technologist