Dissonances in Building Cost: An Analytic Review of the Impact of Design Variables

Abstract

The cost of building is influenced by a variety of design variables. There would however appear a paucity of readily available cost data on the impact of design variables. This research is set out with a view towards the establishing readily available cost data information as well as relevant cost indices. The research used case study from previous buildings, extensive reviews, the statistical technique of percentile as its computational technique and rates obtained from synthesized bills priced by professional Quantity Surveying firms, as relevant components of its methodology. The location of the research, Port Harcourt metropolis is situated in Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Research findings from the case study buildings as well as extensive literature review established that there exist differentials in the initial and total costs of both building plan Shapes (Square and rectangular), recording a 12.56 percentage differential. The elemental cost derived from both shapes also established differentials between 0.53 to 17.79%. The study also establishes the perimeter wall and gross floor area ratio which is an important index towards the determination of economic building shapes. The research concludes that the results, from the case study building would appear limited and as such should avoid being overgeneralized, nevertheless, it does serves to further reveal in broad terms, that the influence of plan shapes of simple buildings on cost is minimal. It recommends further, exploratory study that focuses on design and their cost implications, using cost models that input a wider range of variables