Evaluation of the Dormitories in the Physical and Psychological Requirements: The Case of Karabük Province

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this paper is to investigate the problems of meeting students’ housing needs in many cities that could not adapt to this change with its infrastructure against the rapid increase in the number of Turkish universities and students, who are educated in these institutions, in recent years. In addition, it is to develop alternative suggestions concerned with design criteria for increasing qualifications of the dormitories as one of the primary housing alternatives for students. Design/Methodology/Approach Users’ preferences and their management are very important for especially multi-user design processes. Hence, through a survey, it was planned to determine the physical conditions and the spatial characteristics of the existing dormitories beside their conformities in terms of the users’ satisfaction. At the end of the extensive literature research, the evaluation criteria which included basic psychological (privacy, sense of crowded, belonging and socializing, etc.) and physical (dorm rooms, social and service areas in the dorms and the dorms’ environment, etc.) factors were prepared for the survey. Then their validity was tested via the survey questions and the SPSS software. The obtained findings in the study were discussed in the frame of previous literature researches and their results. Evaluations were made in terms of the development of architectural planning principles of dormitory buildings. Findings Some outstanding findings and evaluations were listed as increasing the more customized using areas in the rooms, rehabilitation of study areas, multiplying variations of study and socializing areas, organizing social areas as partial units instead of the only central space for different functions, avoiding large-scale dormitories for decreasing the perception of crowded sense, creating flexible environments according to the conditions, etc. Besides, although the spatial planning of the dormitories was commonly compatible with the standards, the organization disorders like overcapacity and change of functions have been found to cause dissatisfaction. Many of these are thought to be innovative inputs for the design stages of dormitory buildings even if design contexts are different. Research Limitations/Implications The survey is conducted in Karabuk with 250 students from different faculties in Karabuk University whose development process has significantly affected the city and the city life in the last decade. So, the conditions of dormitories in Karabuk are examined. Practical Implications it is necessary to consider the users’ opinions and expectations about these buildings in the frame of their changing lifestyles and thus to review the criteria and approaches in designs of such buildings. Social Implications The fast and immediate solutions which have been done without considering in detail are often not useful. So, on behalf of solving this rapidly growing problem which has encountered in many cities in similar ways, improving them in line with the current user needs and thus increasing qualities in the students’ education and life standards, it is important to examine the conditions of the dormitory buildings which have been constructed or will be constructed. Originality/Value In this study, unlike the other dormitory studies, the design problems and user interactions have been evaluated with a more holistic approach from interior organization to the decisions on an urban scale.