ABSTRACT

Wind is important to architects and to human beings because it provides enough ventilation in enclosed environments. But high winds come with its disadvantages because it can cause damage to the building’s envelope. In the University of Benin, there are a lot of buildings which have lost their integrity as a result of the adverse effects of high winds made incident on them. As a broader study, this dissertation seeks to properly analyze the types of damages caused by high winds on buildings in the study area and ways in which these damages can be prevented through design.

Data was collected by means of in-person interviews and was analyzed using content analysis method. The study reveals some of the common damages caused by high winds on buildings in the study area which are displaced roofing sheets, broken ceilings and broken windows. Solutions were proposed by the respondents in this research to the adverse effects of high winds on buildings, some of the solutions include the use of wind breakers on the site plan to reduce the amount of wind that reaches the surface of the building. The Respondents also talked about how the architect can make himself available on site to ensure that the workmanship by the construction workers is up to standard and the building is done according to the specifications made by the Architect on the building plan amongst others. The result of this research can help building designers take the adverse effects of high winds on buildings more seriously during the design process.it can also help enlighten building owners and the general public of the roles they have in protecting buildings from the adverse effects of wind. Finally, this research adopted an inductive research approach, hence the results are a reflection of a particular study area; however, the findings of this study can be applied in buildings in other areas.