EVALUATING THE INFLUENCE OF ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER ON INMATES IN THE DESIGN OF PRISONS IN NIGERIA

📄 Project Abstract

The importance of the built environment in defining the character and behaviour of users has long been established. The architecture of any building is a reflection of the purpose the building is meant to fulfil. The prison system was introduced into the fabrics of society as a measure to instil justice and discipline. In recent times, the concept of rehabilitation has been introduced into the arena of prison architecture; placing emphasis on the need to create suitable environments that go beyond punishing offenders to influencing a change in their behaviour and re-introducing them into the society. This calls for architectural character which impact positively in the inmates and contributes to behavioural change. The architect has to resolve the basic problems of ease of supervision of the inmates, their security and control, with those of the usual architectural problems of function, circulation, ventilation and orientation, while at the same time ensuring that the building itself w...