Masters Thesis on Passive Design: Towards Enhancing Thermal Comfort

ABSTRACT For every building and its surroundings, a Thermal Environment exists! In effect, Thermal discomfort; being a phenomenon of excessive and unwanted heating of a building and its surroundings is the cancer of tropical Architectural design and users nightmare. The study is aimed at identifying passive design parameters that will be used to achieve Thermal comfort in Multipurpose Buildings. Within the context of this research work, a solution attempt is generated by proposing a Civic Centre Design for Abuja City that will be functionally adequate using less of active energy and more of passive energy. Relevant data were collected from literature reviews, case studies and questionnaire administration by qualitative & quantitative methods. unresponsive design, inordinate use of low density materials, space/floor plan constrain, greenhouse effect, inadequate fenestrations, low space allocation, small size windows, lack of aquatic facilities, poor/fewer plantscaping, use of high thermal capacity materials; were all analyzed, inferred, and synthesized. Thirty questionnaires were distributed to six target groups of respondents having first degrees as their highest academic qualifications, twenty-five were returned which yielded a response rate of 75%. All the respondents prefer varieties of entertainment, recreation as well downtown attraction. 40% of them prefer passive cooling, lighting & ventilation as well open air events/amphitheater. 64% of the respondents held the opinion that a civic centre is an events arena, a social centre and entertainment place. As a solution package, the design adopted large size windows, silver metallic coated glazing, ponds, balconies, gardens, arcades, pools, hemispherical shapes, and wide range of indoor/outdoor facilities!