A comparative study of the meaning and value of university campus architecture in southwestern Nigeria
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Architecture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, Nigeria.
Abstract
This study examined comparatively the meaning and value of campus architecture of two universities in Southwestern Nigeria. It examined the personal characteristics of users of the University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University campuses, examined the physical and socio-physical characteristics of the two university campuses. Analysed the meaning and value of the two university campus architecture, and compared the architecture of the two university campuses. These with a view to providing information that could enhance university campus architecture. A mixed method of quantitative and qualitative evaluation with physical observation was used to collect primary data, while secondary data were sourced from relevant departments. The campus architecture of Obafemi Awolowo University and University of Ibadan, with two classes of respondents; university – staff and students, comprising of 42 and 63 staff, with 401 and 366 students from OAU and UI respectively, were selected using purposive sampling method. The measuring instruments comprised of campus users personal characteristics, physical and socio- physical characteristics of the campus architecture, which were used to assess meaning, while open responses of campus users, likes and dislikes, mental imagery, campus users memories and most important things assessed users’ value of campus architecture which aligned with meaning. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive analysis, means, percentile, chi-square, Cronbach’s Alpha factor analysis, Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA, Crosstabulation, content analysis and Fisher Freeman p-values. Obafemi Awolowo University and University of Ibadan campus architecture evoked campus users’ meaning and value, namely, architecture vitality, campus ambience, quality, wellbeing, campus aesthetics and privacy, circulation and recognition, inclusivity and accessibility, crowding, and facility recognition and cosiness. OAU campus users ranked architecture vitality the strongest in meaning (0.851 Cronbach’s Alpha score; 5.44 mean value) while, UI users ranked campus ambience the strongest in meaning (0.888 Cronbach’s Alpha score; 5.0 mean value). The weakest ranked users meaning was campus facility distinction and cosiness (0.472 and 0.110, Cronbach's Alpha score) and mean value (4.32 and 4.20) for OAU and UI respectively. Also, campus users’ personal characteristics resonates in campus architecture meaning and value, OAU and UI users’ knowledge of the campus was significantly different in all the meaning except for campus crowding (OAU, p < 0.804; UI, p value < 0.245) and facility recognition in OAU (p value < 0.743). For OAU and UI users’ age and number of years on campus was significant in architecture vitality, campus ambience, wellbeing, aesthetics and privacy, circulation and recognition. Religion was significantly different in UI architecture vitality (p < 0.029) and OAU campus quality (p < 0.012), gender was significant in OAU’s circulation and recognition (p < 0.017), wellbeing (p< 0.031).
The study concluded that Obafemi Awolowo University and University of Ibadan campus users’ meaning and value were distinct, distinguishable and different. Campus users’ meaning and value of Obafemi Awolowo University campus architecture was stronger than those of University of Ibadan campus users.
Description
xx, 249p.
Keywords
Citation
Akinsol, M. L. (2024). A comparative study of the meaning and value of university campus architecture in southwestern Nigeria . Department of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Design and Management, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, Nigeria.