Better Campus Dormitory Living Experiences: The Case of King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkhuntien Campus

This study focuses on the ‘transitional experience’ from Kenyon concept (1999) confronting students who leave home to live in the new environment of a university dormitory. Observing the university dormitory from the perspective of an interior architect, this study aims to understand what constitutes comfortable living for students. The objectives of this research are to establish applicable strategies for a campus dormitory design that responds to the psychological and physical comfort of undergraduate students and encourage universities to rethink dormitory design. The first part of the study examines the theories relating to psychological and physical comfort, and the role of dormitories within campus environments. The second part of the research focuses on dormitory case studies and investigates the current conditions in a university dormitory. Finally, the research topic is applied to a lab-based learning project for second-year students of Interior Architecture. As a result, this study identifies the appropriate design criteria for improving the dormitory of King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkhuntien Campus, which, if adopted by the university, can be used to provide a better experience for students.