APPLICATION OF BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE PRINCIPLES IN THE DESIGN OF HOTEL AT KATSINA NIGERIA

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Department of Environmental Design

ABSTRACT
This paper presents the application of bioclimatic principles in architectural design whose applicability is modified by region and building type. It highlights the bioclimatic principles necessary to achieve environmentally-friendly indoor environment and energy saving strategies. The aim of the research is therefore to develop a theoretical solutions as well as design solutions for sustainable and energy efficient hotels in hot-dry climate. A qualitative case study of three hotels which indicated the use of bioclimatic principles and which are in the climatic region as the study area was conducted to identify the relationships between variables. Visual survey, interviews and checklist methods were all used in conducting the case study survey of all the selected cases. Therefore, research was carried out on the hot-dry climate, the architectural design requirement of the study area and bioclimatic design requirement of the area in order to achieve the research objectives. The overall thesis studied and incorporated multiple bioclimatic design principles certainly to enhance the quality of the interior spaces and give thermal and bioclimatic comfort to the guest/occupants. The study has shown that conceptually and architecturally nature is incorporated by introducing green vertical gardens and green court yard simultaneously for a region with unstable sources of energy and that there are possibilities that in the near future, bioclimatic designs can be an alternative solution to architectural developments in developing countries like Nigeria. The research concluded that the solutions to high energy demand in architectural design can be achieved by enhancing the use of natural day lighting instead of artificial lightning, enhancing system and passive cooling techniques, micro-climate improvement and by the best use of sun and prevailing winds.