ADAPTATION OF BIOMIMICRY ARCHITECTURE PRINCIPLE FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN CIVIC CENTRE LOKOJA, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Civic centre is a reference point of any city where it is located and has been designed to attract interest, hence symbolic expression is one of the paramount requirements in a civic centre design. Biomimicry is defined as imitation of life. It would go a long way in enhancing the architecture of civic centre design in Nigeria. The capabilities that are abounding in biomimicry architecture could be explored in design of a sustainable civic centre so it could behave like an organism that would respond to its internal and external environmental demands, hence this research seeks to control the building’ energy efficiency to create comfort for the occupants. The aim of the research is to adopt the principles of biomimicry architecture as a passive design approach for energy efficiency in civic centre design. The research method used for this study is descriptive survey method. Termite mound architecture principles was adopted in this research as a passive measures for ensuring energy efficiency in the design of civic centre in Nigeria. The research discovered that passive design features for energy efficiency are green roof, breathing skin, roof vent, evaporative effect, and atrium for cooling the building. The research recommended that green building design should be made a criterion to be met by design proposals before approval for construction is given. This is to ensure that new buildings are sustainable.