Archives

  • 2018-07
  • 2018-10
  • 2018-11
  • 2019-04
  • 2019-05
  • 2019-06
  • 2019-07
  • 2019-08
  • 2019-09
  • 2019-10
  • 2019-11
  • 2019-12
  • 2020-01
  • 2020-02
  • 2020-03
  • 2020-04
  • 2020-05
  • 2020-06
  • 2020-07
  • 2020-08
  • 2020-09
  • 2020-10
  • 2020-11
  • 2020-12
  • 2021-01
  • 2021-02
  • 2021-03
  • 2021-04
  • 2021-05
  • 2021-06
  • 2021-07
  • 2021-08
  • 2021-09
  • 2021-10
  • 2021-11
  • 2021-12
  • 2022-01
  • 2022-02
  • 2022-03
  • 2022-04
  • 2022-05
  • 2022-06
  • 2022-07
  • 2022-08
  • 2022-09
  • 2022-10
  • 2022-11
  • 2022-12
  • 2023-01
  • 2023-02
  • 2023-03
  • 2023-04
  • 2023-05
  • 2023-06
  • 2023-07
  • 2023-08
  • 2023-09
  • 2023-10
  • 2023-11
  • 2023-12
  • 2024-01
  • 2024-02
  • 2024-03
  • 2024-04

    • A number of reasons may be adduced

    2018-11-12

    A number of reasons may be adduced on why buildings perform poorly in meeting users\' needs and expectations. The chief among them is the lack of adequate knowledge of users\' changing needs and preferences by architects and other professionals who design, construct and maintain buildings. This is obviously due to inadequate research on this subject. As Meir et al. (2009) rightly observed, whereas designers in other fields of human endeavour expend considerable resources in examining the actual functioning and user satisfaction with everyday services and products and refining their design accordingly, professionals in the building industry appear not to have done well in this area. In the light of the above, Kim et al. (2005) and Fatoye and Odusami (2009) suggested that one of the ways to improve the overall performance of buildings is to explore and understand users\' needs, expectations and aspirations through regular performance evaluation. Therefore, building performance evaluation (BPE) is used to constantly examine the extent to which buildings are effective and efficient in meeting the needs and expectations of users (Liu, 1999; Kim et al., 2005; van der Voordt and Maarleveld, 2006; Nawawi and Khalil, 2008). Among other functions, BPE relates clients\' goals and performance criteria set by experts to the measurable effects of buildings on the users and surrounding environment (Preiser, 1999). It also helps in understanding how occupants feel about their buildings, and thus provides basic information on users\' needs, preferences and satisfaction (Vischer, 2002). Put succinctly, BPE primarily seeks to improve the quality of design, construction and management of buildings and by extension promotes sustainable built environment. Therefore, the need for BPE to be part of the research agenda of architects and other professionals in the building industry cannot be overemphasised. In Nigeria, existing studies (Ukoha and Beamish, 1997; Olatubara and Fatoye, 2007; Fatoye and Odusami, 2009; Ilesanmi, 2010; Ibem et al., 2012; Clement and Kayode, 2012) focus on the general performance of public housing in meeting occupants\' needs and expectations. From these studies, it EZLink NHS-Biotin Kit is established that the physical characteristics of residential buildings have a significant influence on occupants\' satisfaction with their residential environment. This implies that the dwelling unit component of housing plays a vital role in determining the quality of residential environment in particular and the performance of housing projects in general. However, very few studies have specifically examined the performance of dwelling units (buildings) constructed in public housing schemes in meeting occupants\' needs and expectations in the Nigerian context. As a result, little is known of the different dimensions occupants/users respond to in their evaluation of satisfaction with residential buildings in public housing estates in the country. It is against cells background that this study assessed the performance of residential buildings in public housing estates in urban areas in Nigeria, using Ogun State as a case study. The key objectives of the study were to examine the physical characteristics of the buildings in public housing estates constructed between 2003 and 2009 in the study area; and to assess residents\' satisfaction with physical, spatial, location and aesthetic and cost attributes of the buildings. It is expected that the study will bridge some gaps in literature on user satisfaction and performance of mass-constructed residential buildings; and extend our understanding of the key elements that could be manipulated to improve residents\' satisfaction with, and the performance of residential buildings in public housing schemes in Nigeria.
    User satisfaction and building performance evaluation Satisfaction studies cut across a wide range of disciplines in the management and social sciences as well as the built environment. Generally speaking, satisfaction is a subjective evaluation of the performance of products or services in meeting the needs and expectations of users or customers (Parker and Mathews, 2001; Ueltschy et al., 2007; Hanif et al., 2010). It compares the benefits or values users or customers derive to that expected when a product or service is consumed. In a nutshell, satisfaction is a measure of the difference between the actual and expected performance of products or services in meeting users\' needs and expectations from the users\' or consumers\' perspective during or after a consumption experience. In fact, according to the expectancy-disconfirmation theory, which most studies on satisfaction draw on, this means that if the performance of a product or service meets users\' or customers\' needs and expectations, the user or customer is said to be satisfied with the product and/or service, and vice versa (Oliver, 1981; Parker and Mathews, 2001).