Siriphat is a dormitory for university students, located in the dormitory zone near Mahidol University. The main concept of this building comes from the belief that the quality of space and social interaction related to the learning development for students. This idea is almost never expressed from the other surrounding dormitories which don't provide as much public facility. So it is quite challenging for both architects and owner.
Because of future expansion, only half of the land is utilized, leaving the land dimension in a narrow rectangular shape. To serving both male and female students, the idea is to divide into two buildings, each building for each gender. The buildings are paralyzed from the front to the back of the land. The South building facade get the sunlight most of the day. To reduce the heat gain in the South and the West, the floor and the roof slab are expanded like eaves. To solve the long-distance corridor, the buildings are bent as curves for gradually creating a dynamic view within the corridor. The main material is decided to be the exposed bricks for representing and reminding the value of local material and craftsmanship.
The common facilities, such as swimming pool, library and garden, are put in between both buildings in order to be a sharing space for all students. With this location, the common spaces are comfortable to use anytime because they are shaded by the building all day. At the front of the buildings, there is another community space consisting of a shop, restaurant, and café where the student residents and outsiders can hang out together.
According to the regulation, it has to separate area for male and female dormitories distinctly, there are their own lobby and circulation system in each building. Either, the sharing common area in between both building has to be provided with the security check-in each door to access into each building.
This project provides new experiences. It is different from the other Thai conventional dormitories which are designed by considering maximum salable area than living quality and lack the common spaces that support university students' lifestyle. Although this building is surrounded by many dormitories, the project still gets positive feedback from the students. Some student even decided to move out of another one. This shows the result that users also concern space quality as well. Our belief is proved. This project is like a role model for the new dormitory in the future.
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