Document Type : Original Article
Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Karoon Institute of Higher Education, Ahvaz, Iran.
Abstract
The flexibility of the dormitory environment plays a key role in improving students’ quality of life. Since most students live in dormitories that are not designed according to their needs and preferences, the flexibility of space allows them to adjust their surroundings according to personal needs and experience greater comfort and satisfaction. The main objective of this research is to identify criteria that facilitate the flexible design of dormitories and ultimately lead to greater productivity and improved student life experience. This flexibility is essential in dormitories, where students are forced to live in a pre-designed space. Therefore, the space should be flexible to help students customize it to their needs and tastes. This quality will give them a sense of security and comfort, and make them accept the dorm as their second home. With the development of human societies and changes in people’s lifestyles and residences, the attention of architects, designers, and planners to the quality of built spaces and environments has increased. The role of design as a tool for shaping the living environment and responding to human expectations and needs has become more important. What are the criteria for flexible design in dormitories? What impact does space flexibility have on students’ optimal use of space? This research type is mixed (quantitative-qualitative), and in the quantitative part, it is of the correlation-survey type. In the present research, library information will first be collected, referring to written documents, articles, and statistics, and some of it will be carried out in the form of field impressions. In the next stage, the research will be based on the literature on the subject, with the help of concepts, to criticize and examine the presentation of the model and appropriate strategies to strengthen the flexibility of the space. A survey was conducted by completing a questionnaire to measure the model’s validity and collect students’ opinions. The validity of the questionnaire was first measured to examine the validity and reliability of the measurement tool. During which the items related to the variables were prepared in the form of a questionnaire and made available to university professors to express their opinions on the evaluation. At this stage, according to the opinions raised, modifications, adaptations, and deletions of species were made. To assess the validity of the outdoor flexibility model and prioritize flexibility criteria, a model was developed to obtain the opinions of experts and faculty members of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz who had visited the Shahid Chamran dormitory. A model was developed to evaluate architectural designs based on the studies conducted. Then, the professors were interviewed, and a survey was conducted by completing a questionnaire. In order to score the criteria, architecture professors were selected as the statistical population of this study, and the famous members, faculty, and teaching staff of the Department of Architecture at Shahid Chamran University. The validity of the evaluation model was tested on them, and then the developed questionnaire was provided to them to determine the level of importance of the specified criteria. In the final test, all the questionnaire indicators were reliable. Considering that the criteria extracted from theoretical foundations were conducted through a survey with selected professors, the research was conducted as a survey using the Delphi technique. After collecting data, the results were analyzed using SPSS software, and the Spearman correlation test was used to measure the research model and evaluate its validity. The Friedman test was used to prioritize variables. The findings showed. There is a significant correlation between structural systems, service space, and architectural design. The percentage weight of the Friedman test, the main components in the order of architectural design, have the greatest effect on flexibility, followed by the structural system, service and activity space, and furniture arrangement. The results of the Friedman ranking test of the sub-components showed that the sub-component of space development, multifunctional space, size, and shape have the highest average rank, respectively, and show that these sub-components are the most important sub-components affecting flexibility. They are acceptable in the dormitory. After that, there are window details, access units, space separation, and furniture. The following elements from the exterior window details have the least effect on flexibility in the dormitory. The design of public outdoor spaces is a complex issue. This includes the space’s edge, riding activity, and walking activity. In line with the impact of each component of flexibility in the outdoor space in the dormitory, the findings show that the design of the outdoor space includes the edge of the space, riding activity, and walking activity. The flexibility of dormitory spaces is of great value to students, who have to live in dormitories designed by others, so it is of particular importance to provide them with the opportunity to change the space according to their needs. This is the only way most students will achieve an environment that reflects their interests, values, and personal characteristics.
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