Department of Fine Art and Design

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    Sustainability in green design practice within interiors of commercial buildings in Nairobi City County, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2025-11) Oduho, Achieng Rose
    Adopting green concepts in the designs of buildings is a key abatement measure to environmental degradation and sick building syndrome. However, green adoption remains insignificant worldwide, and the facts surrounding the dynamics of its adoption locally are vague. Facts documented on green building regionally and locally are scanty and this topical area remains under-researched. Yet, such information is vital to inform decision-making for the increased adoption of green buildings locally. This study therefore aimed at bridging the gap by documenting on the extent of green adoption in Kenya’s buildings. The documented facts are specific to interiors of commercial buildings and especially in Nairobi City County. The specific objectives that guided this investigation were to determine the extent of green concept adopted in buildings across Nairobi City County; to establish factors influencing adoption of green by interior designers and building users; and to identify the amount of green content integrated in the training guides for interior design at undergraduate level. A conceptual framework derived from two theories guided the study: Sustainability-Model-Theory by Brundtland (1987) and the Practice Theory by Bourdieu (1972). Mixed-methods approach was employed to measure green variables and determine the interior environmental quality of 17 commercial buildings across Nairobi City County. The perceptions of 56 interior designers and 22 building users on the subject green building were gathered. The amount of green integrated in the content of 4 sampled design training guides was examined too. Findings from training guides were corroborated by the 4 respective Heads of the Art and Design Curricula from sampled universities. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed insignificant (Mean Rating 2.84) amount of green concept adoption within interiors of commercial buildings in Nairobi. Consequently, 71.4% of interior designers were significantly aware of green concepts with a correct perception of it but minimally adopted it. At the same time, 63.6% of building users were primarily unaware of green building. Lack of legislation and technical expertise on green building were identified as the critical factors hampering adoption in Kenya. In addition, there was insignificant (6.3%) integration of green content in the interior design training guides for undergraduate at local universities. These findings point to a need to increase green adoption within interiors of commercial buildings through retrofitting exercises. The Kenyan government also needs to urgently address the concept of green building in its National Building Regulations. This move should include devising of incentives and awareness campaigns on green to increase adoption among building stakeholders. This study recommends increased integration of green content into local training of interior design at undergraduate level. This is foreseen as a major way of increasing future adoption of green in interior design in Kenya. Based on the findings of this study, a framework was developed and recommended to aid integration of green content into the training of interior designers. The integration will ensure that future interior designers (building experts) are equipped with technical skills on green building