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By: Esau James Esau and Ferdinand Frank Oko Daminabo.
1. PhD Scholar, Department of Architecture, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
2. Lecturer, Department of Architecture, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Residential buildings, when provided, are expected to satisfy design requirements and stay in a healthy, sustainable, and safe condition within their lifespan before the issue of decay sets in. But in recent times, the issues of early decay of residential building components and materials resulting in limitation in usable indoor spaces in residential buildings in Port Harcourt Municipality have become a source of concern to building owners, occupants, and the built environment professionals. The study is aimed at assessing the impact of building decay on indoor spaces and to prove an architectural solution that will ameliorate building decay and its impact on indoor spaces in the study area. The study adopted a mixed-methods research approach using a concurrent triangulation design for data collection. The study employed purposive and simple random sampling techniques to select two (2) neighborhoods (Port Harcourt Township and Elekahia) and respondents for the collection of data, with a total of 341 respondents sampled. Structured interview questionnaire and key informant methods were used to collect data from the respondents, including building occupants, professionals in the built environment, and MDAs. Physical observation and photography were also used to characterize building decay and indoor space in the buildings of the study area. The study found that early building decay amongst residential building has resulted to a reduction in the usable space, difficulty operating components, such as doors and windows, damp interior, reduced occupants satisfaction, increase risk of accident and reduction in the overall architectural values of the building, It was concluded that, the design approach and choice of materials, neglect and delay attitude of government, private owners and occupants in carrying-out maintenance, the impact of climatic elements and anthropogenic activities on the building component and materials are the major factors responsible for early building decay amongst residential buildings that resulted to limitation and unhealthy indoor spaces in residential buildings in the study area The following recommendations are made are to trained artisans should be used during project execution, and finally all parties responsible for the building repairs and maintenance should be educated on the implication of neglect and delay attitude
Citation:
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