Architectural Interventions to Improve Daylight and Colour Impact for the Long-Term Sustainable Wellbeing of Paediatric Hospital Patients in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Daylight and colour are fundamental variables in the design of hospitals, daylight and colour helps to improve the positive response of patient’s recovery in a hospital. This research work aims to evaluate architectural interventions to improve daylight and colour impact for the long-term sustainable wellbeing of paediatric hospital patients in Abuja, Nigeria. This study adopted a quantitative research approach, and a total of 300 questionnaires were distributed throughout the study population, with 269 questionnaires (90%) successfully recovered. The analysis of the data was carried out using descriptive statistics such as percentage and mean item score (MIS). While 52.8% of respondents agreed that the presence of a high-level window would improve daylight in the building, they also stated that they feel comfortable with the use of colour in the interiors. The findings reveal that 51.3% of the respondents agreed that they were comfortable with the application of colour in the treatment rooms. The findings reveal that 71.4% of the respondents agreed that bed arrangements should properly face window areas as a moderately important daylighting strategy in paediatric hospital design. According to the study's findings, having enough daylight in the paediatric wards is important since it speeds up patients' recuperation. The study recommends architectural changes to better the incorporation of daylighting and colour principles in the architecture of a paediatric hospital in Abuja, Nigeria. This would increase the impact it could have on young patients.