GERIATRIC CARE FACILITY IN ENUGU METROPOLIS: ENHANCING THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ACCESSIBILITY

OKONKWO-THEOPHILUS,, GLORY EZICHI (2026) GERIATRIC CARE FACILITY IN ENUGU METROPOLIS: ENHANCING THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ACCESSIBILITY. Other thesis, GODFREY OKOYE UNIVERSITY, ENUGU,.

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Abstract

Ge’riat’ric ca’re facilities a’re impo’rtant buildings that help olde’r people live comfo’rtably and ‘receive p’rope’r ca’re. In Nige’ria, many existing facilities fo’r elde’rly people a’re poo’rly designed, with confusing layouts, limited accessibility, and little connection to natu’re. These p’roblems ‘reduce the quality of ca’re, make ‘residents less satisfied, and inc’rease p’ressu’re on ca’regive’rs. This study the’refo’re set out to design a ge’riat’ric ca’re facility in Enugu Met ’ropolis that suppo’rts health, dignity, and positive expe’riences fo’r elde’rly use’rs th’rough the’rapeutic design, full accessibility, and effective envi’ronmental planning. The ‘resea’rch used desc’riptive and qualitative methods, including lite’ratu’re ‘review, case study analysis, site analysis, and design synthesis. Five case studies we’re examined: th’ree local facilities in Nige’ria (Fede’ral Medical Cent ’re Abeokuta, National Hospital Abuja, and Unive’rsity of Nige’ria Teaching Hospital Enugu) and two inte’rnational examples (Maggie’s Cent’re Lancaste’r and Hogewey Dementia Village Nethe’rlands). These ‘revealed common p’roblems such as institutional atmosphe’re, poo’r indoo’r-outdoo’r connection, inadequate accessibility, and ove’r-’reliance on mechanical systems. They also showed the benefits of the’rapeutic design, biophilic elements, clea’r wayfinding, and home-like envi’ronments. The study a’rea is a 2.5-hecta’re site behind ANAMMCO, along Emene ‘Road in Enugu Met’ropolis. The site offe’rs good ‘road access, gentle te’r’rain, existing vegetation, and suitable climate conditions fo’r passive design st ’rategies. Enugu’s t’ropical savanna climate, with distinct wet and d’ry seasons, ‘requi’res ca’reful attention to natu’ral ventilation, shading, and d’rainage. The design concept, called "The Fou’r-Leaf Clove’r," a’r’ranges fou’r connected wings a’round a cent ’ral cou’rtya’rd ga’rden. Each wing se’rves a distinct function: ‘rest (bed’rooms), heal (the’rapy), nou’rish (dining), and gathe’r (activities). The cent ’ral ga’rden p’rovides natu’ral light, f’resh ai’r, and natu’re views to all su’r’rounding spaces. The shape aids wayfinding, suppo’rts c’rossventilation, and c’reates a f’riendly, non-institutional appea’rance. The facility includes 12 ‘respite bed’rooms, the’rapy and wellness spaces, administ ’rative a’reas, and extensive outdoo’r ga’rdens. Climate-’responsive featu’res include no’rth-south o’rientation, deep ‘roof ove’rhangs, the’rmal mass, sola’r panels, and ‘rainwate’r ha’rvesting. The study concludes that ge’riat’ric ca’re facilities should move beyond the hospital model to become envi’ronments that suppo’rt the whole pe’rson—body, mind, and spi’rit. By combining the’rapeutic design p’rinciples with unive’rsal accessibility, biophilic elements, and climate-’responsive st ’rategies, the p’roposed facility offe’rs a model fo’r elde’rly ca’re a’rchitectu’re in Nige’ria and simila’r developing contexts. Keywords: Geriatric care facility, therapeutic design, biophilic design, universal design, accessibility, Enugu, aging population, climate-responsive architecture.

Item Type:	Thesis (Other)
Subjects:	N Fine Arts > NA Architecture
Divisions:	Faculty of Natural Sciences and Environmental Studies
Depositing User:	Nnenna Ayo
Date Deposited:	24 Jul 2026 12:49
Last Modified:	24 Jul 2026 12:49
URI:	http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5967

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