Comparative Analysis of Biophilic and Non-Biophilic Hostel Designs in a Tropical Climate: A case of University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Various strategies have been implemented to alleviate the effects of ozone layer depletion on household comfort in both tropical and other climates. Some approaches focus on building structures, while others investigate the airspace between roofing and ceilings, and some embrace biophilic elements. However, there is a lack of research on the effectiveness of biophilic elements, particularly in tropical regions like Nigeria, which this study aims to address. This research explores a comparative analysis of biophilic and non-biophilic hostel designs in a tropical climate, specifically at the University of Ibadan. The objective is to compare environmental parameters between biophilic and non-biophilic hostels in the study area. To achieve this, indoor air temperatures for high biophilic design (IT-HBD) and non-biophilic design (IT-NBD) were measured using K-type thermometers in accordance with ASTM E1 and E77 standards. Concurrently, indoor relative humidity for high biophilic design (IRH-HBD) and non-biophilic design (IRH-NBD) was measured using a digital psychrometer based on ISO 14644-16 standards.

Data were analyzed statistically using graphical representation and a t-test at p<0.05. The indoor air temperatures for IT-HBD in the morning, afternoon, and evening were 29.9-27.9°C, 37.1-31.4°C, and 35.4-24.3°C, respectively, indicating high moisture content in the air, which leads to lower temperatures due to the influence of biophilic elements. In contrast, IT-NBD recorded temperatures of 32.5-30.5°C, 37.5-32.6°C, and 35.4-29.3°C, showing lower humidity and resulting in higher indoor temperatures. Similarly, IRH-HBD ranged from 60% to 77%, 55% to 65%, and 60% to 69%, indicating adequate moisture for indoor cooling. Conversely, IRH-NBD ranged from 60% to 68%, 55% to 64%, and 51% to 63%, reflecting lower humidity levels that contribute to higher temperatures. The statistical analysis revealed that the mean air temperature for NBD (Mean = 32.35, SD = 2.37) is significantly higher than that of HBD (Mean = 29.50, SD = 3.53).Comparatively, incorporating high biophilic elements in hostel design provides substantial benefits over non-biophilic designs. Therefore, designing residences with biophilic features can greatly enhance comfort in buildings. The findings of this study contribute valuable insights into how indoor comfort can be achieved through biophilic elements.