Interior Design Features of Architectural Studios in Private Universities in Ogun State, Nigeria: Implication for Students Academic Performance

Abstract

Interior design is on the one hand a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built environment or improve a learning space. An architectural design studio on the other hand is a classroom space in the undergraduate or graduate professional class where students receive hands-on instructions on architectural design. However, the interior design features of architectural design studios and the implication of these for students’ academic performance has not been clearly articulated in the research literature. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the interior design elements of architectural design studios and its implication for students’ academic performance. This is with a view to suggesting how the interior spaces of architectural design studios can be man manipulated to enhance students’ academic performance. To achieve this goal, three private Universities in South West Nigeria were studied using the data collected from 200 undergraduate and post graduate students. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the results revealed that most of the students were satisfied with the interior design of their architectural studio spaces. It was further observed that students were not aware of the conduciveness and wellness of their studios, hence more work needs to be done on the general interior design to ascertain the wellness of the studios. The design studio being a sole environment where both theoretical and practical learning and work is carried out should be made comfortable for the users of the space. There is a fact that people work better in places that they feel comfortable in. Personal space has a direct impact on learning, and designers must take this into consideration when designing Architectural design studios.