EVALUATION OF LANDSCAPE FEATURES FOR STRESS RELIEFINHOTEL BUILDINGS IN KADUNA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

EVALUATION OF LANDSCAPE FEATURES FOR STRESS RELIEFINHOTEL BUILDINGS IN KADUNA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The fast growing trend of modernization and urbanization in regions around the worldhas its shares of dire consequences, which includes stress related problems, andhavebeen on rise all over the world. The increasing economic growth and development hasled to an intense densification of cities which have in some cases, led to a sparseravailability of open spaces. Nevertheless, the need of spaces with restorative potentialsis imperative in order to mitigate the stress related problems. Hence, this thesis is aimedat understanding the role of landscape and its qualities in fostering psychological restoration in outdoor environments, with the objectives of identifying those specificlandscape elements that promote a restorative environment. The methodology involvedinterviews and preference study with the use of photo questionnaires. The preferencestudy involved the selection of 40 coloured images inspired by Ulrich and Kaplan’srestoration theory. The images depicted landscape scenes with some elements of theattention restoration and psycho evolutionary theories. The images included variablessuch as soft landscape, water elements, colours hard landscape and sporting facilities. Scale 1-5 were given to each participants for each images to be rated with 1 and5asthelowest and highest preferences respectively. The rating was based on howpositivelysuch scenery will affect them. The results were analysed by factoring out the 15most preferred images as well as the 15 least preferred images while factoringout thecommon traits in the images in each selected category. The 15 preferred images werebecause of the high degree of naturalness, denser landscape with beautiful shrubs andtrees. There were presence of water bodies and the colours had brighter colours of plant and general physical environment. While the 15 less preferred images were becausetheimages contained lesser quantities of landscape, low percentages vegetative groundcover, stagnant and unclean water, and lighter shades of the colour of grasses andtrees. The result from the findings indicates that the existence of aesthetically pleasingbodiesof water, artwork (sculptures and statues), and enhanced vegetative cover (trees, shrubsand flowers) foster restorative qualities of such a place. To achieve this, the thesisrecommends the adoption of natural features that can be integrated into landscapedesigns as a key element for stress relief in hotel designs. In conclusion, the knowledgereflected by this thesis can be referred as guidelines by architects, designers, plannersand even policy makers to create or transform outdoor spaces into an environment that supports psychological restoration which in both short and long termwill benefit publichealth and overall wellbeing of individuals.

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