Impact of Passive Energy Strategies on Workers Productivity in Tropical Climate

Passive building strategies in tropical climates are believed to create thermal comfort, thereby enhancing the productivity of the workforce in office buildings. Very little study, however, exists on the impact of these passive design strategies on the productivity of workers in office buildings. This study presents the results of the study on the impact of passive design strategies on the productivity of workers, taking samples from office buildings in Lagos, Nigeria. Copies of questionnaires were administered to gather the required data. Observation guides were also utilised to document passive design features in the buildings studies. Passive design strategies such as; building orientation and the optimisation of solar and ventilation by the use of shading devices were significant strategies in predicting workers’ productivity

IMPACT OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS ON STUDENTS PERFORMANCE IN DESIGN STUDIO PROJECTS

Architecture can be seen as a discipline that poses several design challenges from conception to design realization stages. This path by which the idea of an architect is translated from the mind to paper and then birthed to life is known as design process. To solve design problems, architects have to go through a systematic design process, which vary with individuals and groups. In whatever way, this is done, the process determines the output and resulting performances. Hence, this study investigates varying design processes and the impact it has on students’ performances in their design studio courses. This study adopted a survey approach with 300 structured questionnaires distributed in three Schools of Architecture in southwest Nigeria. The Results showed two distinct design process approach by students namely: (i) Students who derive design concept in mind and stick to it from the beginning of the project to the end; and (ii). Students who embark on research with guided relevant key parameters to direct their project. Findings show that students in the latter category perform better in the design studio. Furthermore, the study recommended that the design process approach is important, but the rule of thumb is not a major determinant factor to performance in architectural design studio