Post-occupancy evaluation and residents' satisfaction with public housing in Lagos, Nigeria

摘要

This study evaluates the residential environments of five low-income and three medium-income public housing estates in Lagos, Nigeria. The specific objectives were: to appraise the physical characteristics of residential buildings in the estates; to examine the socio-economic characteristics of the residents; to determine the relative levels of residents' satisfaction; and to analyse the relationship between the physical characteristics and residents' satisfaction. The methodology involves an expert rating appraisal conducted by four evaluators and a survey of residents' satisfaction. Ten performance criteria were developed and used in assessing the characteristics of the residential environments. Data relating to residents' satisfaction were obtained by means of structured questionnaire administered on a systematic sample of 806 household heads, from a sampling frame of 8060 housing units. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed a gap in quality between the medium-and low-income estates. The results also showed that 62 per cent of the physical characteristics of the residences are highly correlated with residents' satisfaction (r=o.62). This buttresses the significance of the physical characteristics of residences in determining the level of residents' satisfaction. Such information will enhance the skills of architects and housing administrators to ascertain specific actions that can maximize more satisfactory housing provisions and minimize dissatisfaction as much as possible.