Fabric Intelligence for Sustainable Housing Delivery: A PRISMA-Based Integration of Architecture, Textile Systems, and Entrepreneurial Value Chains

Rapid urbanisation, escalating construction costs, and environmental pressures continue to constrain the delivery of affordable housing in developing economies, with deficits exceeding millions of units in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigates how integrating architecture, textile systems, and entrepreneurship, conceptualised as fabric intelligence, can enhance sustainable housing delivery. A PRISMA-based systematic review of peer-reviewed literature (2016–2026) was conducted using Scopus and Web of Science, identifying 649 records, of which 56 met the inclusion criteria. Data were analysed using a mixed-methods synthesis combining thematic coding and quantitative meta-pattern analysis, with reliability (Cohen’s κ = 0.82) and internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.78) confirmed. Results indicate that textile-informed systems reduce embodied carbon by 33.8% (SD = 9.4), improve thermal performance by 3.1°C (SD = 1.0), and enhance construction efficiency by 28.6%, representing substantial gains relative to conventional systems. Regression analysis indicates that material innovation (β = –0.49, p < 0.01), adaptive design (β = –0.27, p < 0.05), and entrepreneurial integration (β = 0.31, p < 0.05) are significant predictors (R² = 0.62). The study proposes an Architecture–Textile–Entrepreneurship Framework and positions architects as systems integrators. It concludes that fabric intelligence offers a scalable pathway for low-carbon, culturally responsive, and economically inclusive housing delivery.