An Examination of the relationship between Spatial Morphology and Residential Satisfaction in Residential Settings in Garki, Abuja

Coming from the perspective that the configuration and use of space in built form mediates the relationship between architecture and social behaviour (Hillier, 2007), this study examined the relationship between spatial morphology and residential satisfaction among the housing residents of two different building types in Garki, Abuja. Spatial form has been acknowledged in the past as a primary independent variable with respect to residential satisfaction, however relatively little work has been done in explaining the role social factors play. Based on a multi-variate model which combined physical and social variables as well as attitudinal ones, a scale was developed to make residential satisfaction operative. The study tested the hypothesis that residential satisfaction would be greater among housing residents occupying semi-detached terrace housing than would be the case among those occupying blocks of flats. Findings from the study revealed that although residential satisfaction is the outcome of several variables, spatial variables were in this case the most significant in explaining the variance in residential satisfaction. Department of Architecture Faculty of Architecture and Building Technology College of Architecture and Planning Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) May 2011 CERTIFICATION PAGE I, Elizabeth Tidak Dassah hereby declare that this submission is my own work towards the Master of Philosophy, and that to the best of my knowledge, it contains no material previously published by another person nor material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree of the University except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text. ……..………………….. ………………………….. ELIZABETH DASSAH Date PG1112107 …………………………… ………………………….. PROFESSOR G W K INTSIFUL Date SUPERVISOR …………………………… ………………………….. DR RUDITH KING Date SUPERVISOR ……………………………….... …………………………… MR AFRAM Date HEAD OF DEPARTMENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I acknowledge and appreciate the University of Jos for granting me this time to be on study leave. I would like to thank my supervisors, Professor George Insitful and Dr. Rudith King, for the support and guidance they gave. I also appreciate the thoughtful suggestions and encouragement offered by Professor Abiodun Olotuah, Dr. Kootin-Sanwo and Dr. Anthony Ogbonna. I acknowledge the assistance given to me by professional colleagues in FCDA, Abuja. Thank you to Brown, Mary Gandu, Rhoda Galadima, Norma Laing, Efe and Cecilia. My sincere appreciation also goes to members of the Dassah and Gamba family; particularly my parents for your constant support and prayers. I appreciate the courage and resilience of my children - Jahleel, Chalya and Salome, in the past three years. To my husband, Edward, I will forever be grateful for your financial, moral and loving support. Finally, I give thanks to the Almighty God; in whom alone, the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that we seek is found. DEDICATION Dedicated to the memory of the courage and faith of my sister Lando Mercy Gamba (1952-2008). ABSTRACT Coming from the perspective that the configuration and use of space in built form mediates the relationship between architecture and social behaviour (Hillier, 2007), this study examined the relationship between spatial morphology and residential satisfaction among the housing residents of two different building types in Garki, Abuja. Spatial form has been acknowledged in the past as a primary independent variable with respect to residential satisfaction, however relatively little work has been done in explaining the role social factors play. Based on a multi-variate model which combined physical and social variables as well as attitudinal ones, a scale was developed to make residential satisfaction operative. The study tested the hypothesis that residential satisfaction would be greater among housing residents occupying semi-detached terrace housing than would be the case among those occupying blocks of flats. Findings from the study revealed that although residential satisfaction is the outcome of several variables, spatial variables were in this case the most significant in explaining the variance in residential satisfaction.

Source: KNUST