COMMUNITY CENTRE YENAGOA BAYELSA STATE(A STUDY OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL ADAPTABLE SPACES)

ABSTRACT

The environmental contribution of the built environment to man  cannot be treated with a lames leg as the total man is a sum total of his environment; this is so because the environment moulds man, just as man moulds his environment. The spaces man creates to serve a particular function must be adaptable and sustainable since there is a chronological  and a continuous order in life. Space adaptability is one of the germane principle if we are to achieve a sustainable architecture which tend to provide one of mans basic necessities  of life.  Therefore,  or so, adaptability and flexibility cannot be overemphasized because of the present need for sustainability in our time.

This overture is geared towards obtaining adaptable spaces within a community  centre,  which will in tum be a machinery  and aid in the study and understanding  of the nitty-gritty  in the design of this particular project. Nothing can have value without being an object of utility.  The stereotypical  method of spatial design is to develop a space  for its effective  utilization  for the primary purpose.  Sometimes,  a simple adjustment  of spatial configuration  allows for a change in use for the same space. These adjustments define the adaptability of such space. Chapter one of this thesis report presents an introduction into the subject, stating the motivation and purpose, statement  of architectural  problems,  defining scope etc.  Chapter two presents  the theoretical framework  backing up adaptable  spaces and space syntax,  historical  background  of both the study  and  the  design  structure.   The  third  chapter  sited  relevant  cases  which  were  also evaluated  for  study.   Chapter  four    talks  about  general  planning  principles   and  design considerations  for the design.  chapter five dwells on analyses of required  spaces also throws more light on the design criteria,  the chosen site and its implications  on the design.  The final chapter (six) rounds up this project  as a design, the design synthesis and philosophy behind it discussed and recommendations  and conclusions made.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

A  community  centre  is  a place  that  promotes  communal  living  and brings  about  good neighbourliness   between  the  citizens/residents   of an  area,  both  the  autochthonous   and visitors  alike.  It  is  a place  where  people  within  the  community  and  other  neighboring communities  come together for participation  in such activities as recreation, social, cultural and educational purposes.

Community centre tends to reflect and focus on the life of the people whom it is built for, by providing  a functional  configuration  that will house their recreational, cultural, social and civic life of the community.

A community centre is a cynosure and a place that promotes peaceful co-existence between individuals  of different  stereotype, and also the centre serves as a panacea  for belligerent communities located within its proximity

It is pertinent to note that most of the activities which take place in a community centre are informal in nature and that most of the participation in the centre are carried out by informal community members.

The centre should be suitable for casual and everyday situations rather than being stiff and restrictive with witty allocation of facility and functions to permit efficient communications and smooth operation of the centre. Assiduity should be employed so as to avoid conflicts of functional  interest  like not placing  games  area next  to a conference  rooms,  or a library facility to a sports arena, just to mention only but a few of these incompatible space syntax

The architectural  character of the buildings  within the centre must as a matter of necessity house  efficiently the facilities  while suggesting  its purpose  by its appearance  and design, serving as a mirror  of their  cultural heritage.  The spaces to be provided  must blend  and romance  the  people  whom  the  design  is  made  for,  there  is  also  the  need  to  extirpate incongruous  activities,  thereby creating rooms for more functional adaptable  spaces within the  centre,  so  as  to  meet  futuristic  activities  of the  people  which  accumulates  in  the community over time, as the efficient use of spaces is cardinal.

1.1 BACKGROUND  OF STUDY

Every piece of architecture entails a process and a product culminating through a vast range of activities at different phases which are all geared for human habitation and co-habitation with other life support sources.

The understanding  of space  is the key  to the  understanding  of architecture  since  space affects man and controls his spirit within the environment on which he carries out his daily activities.  The environment we live-in exist as a space  factor,  of which space is an infinite material which the architect modifies by enclosing some aspect of it to suit a purpose  and serve a function which could be for cultural, social, education, recreational  or commercial activities. Man recreates the natural environment to form a man made environment.

This great variety of possible types of space makes any definition of space in planning and design difficult. Generally  speaking,  however,  space is the three-dimensional  extension of the world around us, the intervals, distances  and relationships  between people  and things. Pultar  (1999).  In this research  paper,  architectural  space  and its adaptability  is what  our

concern will anchoring on. In that light, “Space is, quite simply, what we use in buildingsll. Hillier (2007 p.19)

This  research  work  is  on a proposed  community  centre  and a study  of multifunctional adaptable  spaces, the term space will be used to mean architectural  space,  so it requires articulate space planning  as a deliberate point of call. Planning of space in this contextual framework  refers  to  the  allocation  of land  use  plan  that  will  be  adaptable  for  human activities that should occur on land,  and determines the level of those activities of varying stereotypes functioning in harmony and adaptable to its users.  It is the resulting combination of many  of the spatial  elements  drawn and outlined  to be provided  within  a community center  to  foster  peaceful  co-existence  and  neighborliness.  The  society  is  dynamic  and evolving  so there  is a need  for a paradigm  shift to balance  the capricious  nature  of the environment, man has the inherent ability to adapt, so the need to create adaptable  spaces. Every  space  within  this purview  will be planned  to suit their  social  organization  which involves  the  conversion  of a spatial  configuration  (architecture)  into  a social      cultural objective  to  curb  the  spate  of restiveness,  insurgence  and  other  negative  societal  vices bedeviling  the  region  Moreover,  as  the  social  activities  of people  accumulate  in  the community, the efficient use of the spaces is needed, and a fixed rule for locating high-profit activities in each fixed area is being applied.  In order to apply this rule, although considering the characteristics  and efficiency of every use,  location,  and scale is important,  considering the accessibility of the land is also an important factor.

It is according to how both forms and spaces are elaborated into patterns – spatial layout • that the socio-cultural  function may occur.  The spatial layout embodies the social nature of the building through which it localizes people and modulates their interaction as well their experience  of the  place.   Hence,  the  spatial  ‘component’  must  not  be  disregarded  but

considered  as  a  significant  factor  of how  the  socio-functional   processes   are  (or  not) generated (Hillier,  1996: 24). Thus, it is how the spatial layout is defined -structured and organized – and, consequently, how it relates to some kind of social expression.

Community  centre is a particularly  specialized type of public/institutional  buildings.  They are designed to make use of space as a tool for socialization, recreation,  education,  cultural integration  and economic  consolidation. They represent  the physical place where to meet, search for information,  and study.  A place where children and youth can get together with other age groups,  associate with each other,  and take part in things together       a place of vital importance for their social growth.

When dividing the concept of land use into categories  of activities  in an institution  as a community  centre,  its effect,  activity  can be represented  by  function  and  effect  can be represented by physical space.  The functional factors of land use in this context – refer to the type  and  amount  of activity  occurring  on  the  land  and  express  their  preference   in complimentary   activities.  The  competitiveness   of location  increases  as  usage  becomes higher along with space usefulness. In the process  of competition between the uses, space usefulness,  location  characteristics,  and scale are determined,  and the use in which these three factors are predominant obtains the land in question. Location, a physical factor of land use, can be represented by accessibility. Accessibility  is a scale that evaluates the degree of ease with which contact between similar activities in one area can be made.

The position and mobility expenses are mutually exclusive and location is determined when these two are in a balanced  state.  These influences  of mobility are otherwise expressed as land value.  These functional factors and physical  factors are mutually related,  and for land use, both factors exert influence at the same time. For example, land use efficiency is higher

when it is closer to the heart of the community,  where space usefulness  is higher and the extent of integration is larger. This level of efficiency is explained with land use intensity.

The ideology of creating parks and recreational centres is evanescing and it needs revamping because its importance cannot be overemphasized.  Rest and leisure is part of our everyday life which should not be ignored.  Even God Almighty rested after his creation as evinced in the holy book.

1.2 STATEMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL PROBLEM

Inadequate functional space relationship  of activities is identified as the bane of disorderly flow of movement  and under-utilisation  of spaces in community  centres.  In essence, the identification  of spaces  which  are  not  necessary  in  the  design  of a  community  centre however, enhances full utilization of spaces and good flow of functional spaces with regards to the activities in which the envisaged spaces are created. Also, Buildings are generally not designed and constructed to absorb change easily,  at the same time,  change is accelerating but the spaces we create are largely static and unresponsive. Greden (2005). In an attempt to address  this issue, the concepts  of  flexibility  and adaptable  spaces are employed  in the planning  process  of spaces  and  design  of structures.  Just  like  every  other  approach, flexibility  comes  with its own lapses where  the architectural  problem  lies. According  to Butin (2000).

The architectural problem that this thesis attempts to address is the adaptable use of spaces in an a Community  Centre.  The  area  of study  focuses  on adaptable  spaces  which  will provide a guide for the provision of spaces for some facilities such as multipurpose hall and

recreational  areas  that  are  flexible  enough  to  adapt  to  changes  m use  i.e.  efficiency  m switching between one purpose and another in a given space

The ability to design a multi functional adaptable space within a metropolis that would be functional  in terms  of usage  is    tasking  and  demanding  because  of the  heterogeneous lifestyle of city dwellers which necessitates  space integration  of activities for optimal use. Developed  countries having experienced  the numerous  advantages  of careful utilization  of such spaces, now maximize  its use. The research would be faced with developing ways of utilizing  all  facilities  within  spaces  the  architectural  design  would  be  faced  with  the challenge of transforming the research data and models into a workable design configuration suitable for usage, but also for spaces that promote harmony and peaceful co-existence.

In Nigeria, observantly at the three tiers of government there is a lack of maintenance culture for facilities which are provided for public consumption and also adequate monitoring.  This is an ill-fated attitude plaguing the nation which if not addressed lingers from generation to generation which results in recurrent expenditure, profligacy of tax payers money,  because those  in  governance  are  benighted,  they  prefer  the  issuance  of new  contracts  for  self aggrandizement  rather than maintaining  what is already on ground (built structures). Some community  centres (open parks) are seldom converted to other uses like we have in some urban centres

…Community  Centre, Yenagoa,

1.3 AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aims at achieving a flexible and adaptable multifunctional  environment that accommodates  the respective  spatial requirements  and activities  in form and in character; with a view of enhancing the effective and efficient flow of movement. The spaces provided for are to be flexible enough for change when the need arises.

1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

In accordance with the architectural problem attached, its objective entails

•     To create an environment  flexible enough to accommodate  the specified  purposes efficiently making sure the separate needs of the purposes  are properly  met. Study the nature and type of activities relative to the space of accommodation

•     To establish the viability, adaptability and compatibility of such purposes in relation to  each  other  and  to  the  environment.  Establish  the  flow pattern  of the  spaces, relative to the spaces

•    To establish the climatic compact of activities in terms of spaces

•    To examine principles and methods of applying adaptable space concept in designs.

•    To develope spaces to share resources, ideas, information.

•     To examine and understand various ways of improving the psyche of her indigenes through public interaction

1.5 MOTIVATION

According  to    Marie  Wernham  (2007),  any  child  that  grows  up  in  isolation  or  with insufficient love, not having the opportunity of free association   and interaction   with other children  of the  same ages tends  to develop  undesirable  personality  patterns  of behavior seeming to lack both a conscience and the ability to feel strong affection for other people.

The incentive  for this centre is to create a place within a space that would bring different groups of people irrespective of social stratification,  age or gender,  cultural gap and lag for social,  economic,  educational,  entertainment   and  recreational     activities  which  would invariably foster  peaceful communal living of the people

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Mans curiosity for knowledge is insatiable. Everyday, man is looking for solutions that will solve design albatross in the built environment  and spaces that will be sustainable. For this purpose, the importance  of adaptable  spaces cannot be overemphasized. A floor plan with enclosed,  single-purpose  rooms is far less adaptable to changing needs,  sizes and functions than  open-space  plans.  intellectual  culmination  of every  and  any  means  of providing harmony and peaceful co-existence is cultivated to serve as a silver lining to the adversities bedeviling our nation by streamlining every possible design solution within a confine.

Using  a library with  adaptable  spaces  as case  study,  one may  say,  however,  that  in the majority of cases where library facilities have shared space or buildings with other activities in this manner, the primary objective has been explicitly social, cultural or educative, aiming to enhance the attractiveness, relevance and accessibility of the library service by co-locating or merging  it with similar social and cultural activities,  meeting places  and spaces where…Community  Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa  State.   –

communities  come together.  (Robinson 2006).  From this,  one can say that making a space more adaptable for other activities makes it more attractive than it would have naturally been if it were for single use.  Economy-wise,  it could be advantageous  if the facilities are turn• over and profit oriented.

It is  therefore  germane  to  make  spaces  multi-use  oriented  in  developing  countries  like Nigeria,  which Bayelsa  state is part of,  to arrest the ill maintenance  culture of sustaining built structures.  In the light of this, an adaptable space created,  is synonymous with using a single stone to kill three birds.

The project  would  also increase the level of infrastructural development  in the state and would attract more development to the local government area, promoting rural development, and boosting the tourism potentials thereby increasing her revenue base as well as promote the social-cultural, physical well-being of the people.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

The scope of this project  is to study underlying  ideas about spatial configuration  and bring together these ideas and facilities which should be easily and readily accessed by the people within a community.  These ideas would be applied within the frame work of developing the centre..

The  Yenagoa  L.G.A  Community   Centre  is  intended  to  create  a  conducive   ambient environment  active Social Centre Network, which aims to link “up the growing number of autonomous  spaces.  The centre would also play a complimentary  role for the government’s

…Community  Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa  State.   –

strides in boosting the welfare of her citizens.  The centre would go a long way in creating such environment  and the project would cover the following areas: A defined spatial layout of the structures with built units, traffics (vehicular and pedestrian movement) and beautiful lawns, that emerges into a serene environment with enabling command.

The scope will therefore  be limited to site planning  and the detailed  development  of the aforementioned  spaces.  The minimum requirements  for adaptable spaces are to be satisfied in this discourse.

1.8 LIMITATIONS  OF THE PROJECT

Want of time to invest on the study and some important undocumented  information’s orally gotten in the process.

1.9 RESEARCH  METHODOLOGY

The Descriptive  Research  Methodology  approach will be adopted for this project. This is because the approach in methodology is aimed at:  Identifying current or existing problems; Collection   of  information   or   data   with   a   view   to   describing   existing   conditions, characteristics or phenomena; Making comparative analysis of these features or character as relevant; and providing good insights to the subject matter and enough guides for decision• making or for further investigation.

Procedure  for data collection:

Data collections applicable under descriptive methodology are from two sources, namely:

…Community  Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa  State.   –

Primary sources and secondary sources.

There will be primary source of information; these are first hand information obtained from direct sources.

•    Personal experience/observations and information about the subject matter.

•    Oral interviews where necessary.

•    Case studies (visiting and studying of existing community centers)

Secondary source of information:  such data are recorded information  obtained from other sources.

Sources of secondary data include:

•     Getting information from architectural books, journals, periodicals, and related thesis and dissertation reports.

•     The Internet on issues as it relates to the design,  personal  interview,  site visitation and investigation and case studies review.

The information obtained  will  culminate  into analyses  of collected  data,  deduction  from analysis, postulations of solution and design proposals

Personal experiences and observations

this is an individualistic approach through which priori and posteriori knowledge are merged and used in the research work by the person carrying out the research through his personal experience  and observation.  It  may be knowledge  gained  through  previous  visit  to such buildings or projects he has participated in designing

…Community  Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa  State.   –

Library research

Obtaining  general  information   and  data  about  the  project,  as  well  as,  standards  and principles of planning the various components of the design.

Knowledge about the project were also available as the use of library afforded me access to foreign  case  studies  as well  as  local  case  studies,  about  the  way relevant  facilities  are designed both in advance countries and within Nigeria. All the ideas obtained through the library will helped me through the actual design and planning process.

Oral interview

This  entails  conducting  interviews  with  people  who  are  knowledgeable   in  community buildings in architecture and also those who make use of the provided facilities.

Case studies

Consulting  similar projects  of both  local  and foreign perspectives  documented  in books, magazines,  journals,  on  the  internet  and  other  gazettes  in  order  to  obtain  first  hand information  on factors  that  influenced their  design and furthermore  an appraisal  of their performance in use.

Field visit and analysis

Firstly;  site visitation to obtain cogent information about the site, its limitation and potential for the project.

Secondly;  personal  visitation  of some  existing  similar  or relevant  establishments  for the design and planning of the project.

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