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Student life The new student accommodation on the Mangosuthu University of Technology, designed by SVA International, pioneers a new student residential concept based on a family-type relationship. PHOTOGRAPHY FRANCESCO COPPOLA
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he on-site student accommodation on the Mangosuthu University of Technology campus was substantially underprovided in terms of room numbers. The university determined a resolution to address the shortage of oncampus student accommodation and applied for funding from the department to build part one (624 beds) of its planned two-part, first of two-phase, strategy. The provision of on-campus student accommodation is based on a fundamental principle and international trend. By providing affordable housing in proximity to
academic resources, the university improves the learning efficiencies by creating an environment conducive to research and intellectual dialogue among students, their peers and faculty members. This serves further to encourage a sense of community among the students. The design proposal was developed around sound design and sustainable principles, rationality, functionality, efficiency of space and aesthetic appeal. Located on a steep site, the buildings were designed to “cascade” down the slope in order to reduce the visual height impact. A grand staircase down the middle
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of the project becomes a strong link to the main sports field at the bottom, reinforcing the central collection point as the epicentre of the residential precinct while also providing opportunities for social interaction. The design of the residential blocks is such that they are grouped as a series of buildings around courtyard spaces, providing “defensible space” and maximising its exposure to north orientation for functionality and environmental benefit. The maximum “walk-up” is limited to four floors within a fivestorey building. The concept of “responsible living” is used to accommodate 624 students in groups of maximum fifteen students per floor. This figure is derived from analysis of group dynamics that holds that within this size, patterns of self-responsibility and group commitment are engendered. Each
group of rooms are provided with a dedicated communal room and kitchen facility to allow students to prepare their own meals. Each group of fifteen students assume an essentially equal mix of male and female students, and ablution facilities to each unit are provided for either sexes. By grouping students in this manner, the aim was for a familytype relationship to take root, where security and feelings of group responsibility could manifest. The need for hierarchies of privacy is achieved in allowing progression from multi-group social space, to individual group social spaces, to semi-private and ultimately to private space. The inspiration for the composition of the buildings was drawn from three primary references. Firstly, reference was drawn from the main campus’s central courtyards because of
