Student housing design implications for single-room occupancy during COVID-19 in Ghana

Abstract

PurposeThe adaptation of emerging building designs for single room occupancy in off-campus university student housing during the COVID-19 pandemic is evolving. However, assessing its effects on student satisfaction to compensate for COVID-19-associated impacts is missing. As a result, the study examines the satisfaction of students with emerging building designs in single-room off-campus student housing in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThe study is quantitatively based on positivist philosophical thinking. A purposive sample of 202 purpose-built student housing facilities was selected across public and private universities in Ghana. Using systematic stratified sampling, the study sampled 1,212 student residents through a survey. A principal component method (PCM) was used to assess the availability of 10 emerging building design and basic building services variables across the study location. Multiple regression was employed to determine the satisfaction and predict potential variables for policy formulation.FindingsThe analysis revealed that private space for social distancing, the availability of hands-free fittings in the toilet and bathroom, and the availability of hands-free fixtures in the kitchen unit was common single-room self-occupancy support systems. However, there is a huge gap in the availability of key emerging building designs and basic building services and their associated effects on students' satisfaction across the study locations. Therefore, relevant proposals to serve as fundamental requirements for developing an off-campus student housing model during pandemics were indicated.Research limitations/implicationsIt is seen that emerging building designs across the housing sector are equally evolving among off-campus student housing. The study helped to understand that student satisfaction with emerging building designs and basic services is a motivational need for students. However, the preparedness of student housing owners to adopt and satisfy the requirements of these design require further studies.Originality/valueWhile COVID-19 and its associated effect keep evolving in building design requirements, it is equally relevant to assess the students' satisfaction with these designs and services among single room occupancy-made off-campus student housing. This research is limited to Africa.

Nature of student housing in Ghana: drivers of physical health condition effects on students living with disability (SWD) in Purpose-Built university housing

“…The study further showed that thermal comfort had a high and negative impact on the health of SWD in Ghanaian student housing as supported by Appau et al . (2022).…”

“…The study further showed that thermal comfort had a high and negative impact on the health of SWD in Ghanaian student housing as supported by Appau et al (2022). Reliance on artificial ventilation (fans and air conditioners) was revealed as the most crucial variable that reduces sweat and suffocation on SWD, in line with Simpeh and Shakantu (2019).…”

“…However, these studies focused on assessing the effects of environmental factors on housing. The physical health condition in housing is directly linked to interior designs, influencing resident satisfaction and well-being (Appau et al ., 2022; de Jesus-Moraleida et al ., 2020). Based on that, inferior indoor housing design has undesirable effects on a resident's mental and physical health.…”

“…Moreover, there appears to be equal treatment for all classes of students, which enormously affects SWD in Ghana. Aside, due to the high rate of student enrollment and the emergence of an off-campus housing model, university authorities and Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies do not evaluate and control building designs of student housing that support all-inclusiveness (Appau et al ., 2022; Simpeh and Shakantu, 2019).…”

An assessment of crime prevention through environmental design in student housing: a weight-of-evidence approach

“…Consequently, in Ghana, more than 75% of student housing provision is handled by the private sector (Attakora-Amaniampong et al , 2021), and more than 80% of these students stay in off-campus housing facilities (Ameyaw et al , 2016). Designs of these buildings are usually focused on interior facilities satisfaction with less focus on exterior security (Appau et al , 2022). However, violent crime (such as rape cases and student riots) and property crime (such as stealing and break-in) within student housing are significant concerns for university authorities in Ghana (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, 2023; University of Ghana, 2023; Adzimah et al , 2020).…”