ASSESSMENT OF BIOPHILIC DESIGN STRATEGIES IN THE DESIGN OF A HOLIDAY RESORT IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

A number of research works relating to occupational health and leisure science highlighted recovery as a process which takes place during a period an individual is not working. Across the globe, people tend to pursue their vacations in a setting, according to their preferred recreational activities and what would they like to experience. In line with the above, people are known to spend 90% of their time indoors and with this, a large population of people that occupy urban areas can recurrently tend to be separated from nature. Literatures have established that holiday resorts are tourism engineered facilities which are very useful for boosting national economy and enhancing both psychological and physical well-being of people. Biophilia being natural and of nature friendly design strategies would lead to an effective habitat for people through texture, appearance and effects of the building in the contexts of the nature in the space, the natural analogues and the nature of the space. This research aims to incorporate biophilic principles in the design of a holiday resort in Abuja with a view to improving the performance of indoor spaces. This research employs the use of simple random sampling for Observation (Post Occupancy Evaluation) of twenty-six (26) resorts across Nigeria, while purposive sampling was employed in the distribution of two hundred (200) questionnaires. The results were analysed through the use of chi-squared and the building condition index (BCI) and presented through the use of tables and charts. It was found that there is a significant relationship between the absence of biophilic features or elements and the user perception on their significance in a holiday resort. The findings showed that users had the highest dissatisfaction towards natural analogues on a 60- percentage rate. The usage or implementation of these design strategies or elements in a holiday resort showed a percentage rate adoption of 32.9%, also indicating that they have not been adopted or implemented on a percentage rate of 67.1%. This shows the poor adaptation and implementation of biophilic design strategies in the design of holiday resorts. This research recommends that designs should be made to consider the patterns of biophilic design features, so as to optimise the experience of tourists to these locations.