PLANNING 1ARC 004: ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 4: SPACE

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

S 3:00 – 5:00

Research #1:
RESEARCH PAPER ON
TROPICAL APPLICARTION AND
DORMITORIES

03-1314-02012
FERRER, ZILDJIAN M.
Student

AR. VINA ANTONIO

Instructor

A.Y. 2020-2021
WHAT IS A DORMITORY

A dormitory — also called a residence hall or simply a “dorm" — is a large building divided up
into many rooms where college students live, often with a roommate or two. Dorm rooms are
usually small, with just enough room for a couple of beds, a couple of desks and maybe a few
small pieces of furniture.

Unlike hotel rooms, most dorm rooms don't have their own bathrooms (although some dorm
rooms, called “suites," may share a bathroom with another adjoining room). Each floor in a dorm
will usually have one or two bathrooms that all the people living on that floor share.

Unlike apartments, most dorm rooms don't have kitchens. Dorm residents usually eat together
in a large cafeteria area in the building or another building nearby. You may find small
appliances, such as toasters or microwave ovens, in dorm rooms, so that students can fix
snacks without leaving their rooms.

College students who live in dorms often become close friends with the other people who live in
the rooms close to them. Most dorms have common rooms on each floor where residents can
gather together to chat, watch television or play games.

College students aren't the only people who live in dormitories, though. Dorms are often used
for short-term housing in many other situations. In the military, for example, personnel often stay
in dorms during initial training at military bases.

Some large companies also house workers in dorms during initial training sessions. Younger
students may also stay in dorms if they attend camps and programs at a college or university
during the summer.

DESIGN OF LIVING SPACES IN DORMITORIES

In this study, the aim is to determine basic features for an ideal dormitory room by finding
answers to questions relating to dorm students’ friendly relationships with each other, planning
dorm rooms, study environments, heating and lighting services, relationship between dorm
rooms and WC-bathroom spaces.
Mans’ relationship to the built environment surrounding them is significantly important in terms
of design action. That is to say, the key factor that helps in creating and maintaining a new
environment is relationships between people and their environment. It is possible to improve
quality of living environment by providing ambient conditions suitable for human requirements.
One of the premier troubles that students moving away from their family and home face is
accommodation. Living spaces are places in which individual environmental communication is
most intensively perceived. Similar to a person’s expectations from his house, what students
expect from dormitory rooms is to conduct their vital activities safely and tranquilly. In dormitory
buildings where students having different cultures, values, and habits live a common life by
keeping together, spaces should be designed so as to make them feel at home. Bedrooms are
the most significant units of dormitories in which students spend most of the time out the school.
Bedrooms should be such as to fulfill students’ individual needs. In this regard, the rooms
should be properly planned and decorated considering such activities as sleeping, studying, and
resting.
The main target of the study is to determine the qualities which dormitory rooms are supposed
to have so as to meet students’ needs physically. In accordance with this purpose, it is aimed to
determine basic features of a dorm room by finding answers to the following questions:

 What are students’ opinions relating to location/organization of dormitory rooms in which

they stay?
 What is a study environment in dormitories like? Which parts of dormitories can students
conduct their study activities in?
 What are heating and lighting conditions of dormitory rooms like?
 What is the relationship between dorm rooms and WC-bathroom spaces like? What is
students’ friendly relationship at dormitories like?

Method
This is a special case study in which methods of collecting and evaluating qualitative data are
employed. A case study is conducted in a natural habitat such as a class, a district or an
organization and aims at an integrated evaluation of environments or events involved in the
study. Unlike other research methods, a case study uses the questions “how” and “why” as
base.
Qualitative data has been collected through interviews. Interviewing as a data collection tool,
most frequently used in qualitative researches, is described as a mutual and interactive
communication process based on the way to ask and answer questions, which is predetermined
and conducted for a significant purpose. Through interviews, such situations as experiences,
attitudes, opinions, comments, and reactions which can’t be observed are perceived. As
qualitative researches aim at probing into cases and events comprehensively, results can be
considered for similar environments even though it is not possible to generalize them. Due to
limitedness such as finance, time, and energy, it might not possible to gather data from large
experimental groups as part of a qualitative research by means of face-to-face interview
method. In such a case, searchers have to employ sampling methods.
Applicants
The study sample consists of six second-grade students – four, female and two, male – who
studied at Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Architecture Department of Architecture in
2009-2010 academic year spring semester. The applicants have been selected among those in
the predetermined class through accidental sampling method. The assumption that second
grade students have experiences in staying at a dorm and remember their dormitory life has
played an active role in determining the sample.

Data Collection
In this study, semi-structured interview method has been employed. Semi-structured interview
method is expected to be sufficient in obtaining in-depth information from the applicants and
explicating the study questions. Each of the students in the sample group has been interviewed
for 30-40 minutes and all the interviews have been recorded so as to prevent data loss. Sound
recording has been carried out just after getting permission from the applicants. What the
applicants said has been written down as perfectly as possible by the researcher. All the data
collected has been evaluated through qualitative analysis method.

Data Analysis
In this study, the data received from the semi-structured interviews has been interpretively
analyzed. In interpretational data analysis, themes are created and the data is analyzed and
evaluated according to these themes. After the interviews recorded by means of the recorder
were divulged and put on paper, first level coding has been conducted for them by the
researcher. Some themes in relation to the study problem and sub-problems have been created
using these codes. The themes have been classified so as to represent the applicants’ opinions
within the data obtained from each of the interviews. In accordance with the data obtained from
the study, five main themes have appeared.

 Physical conditions of dormitory rooms

Room size Fittings, the deficiency of which is felt Heating and lighting conditions
in a room
 Study environment in dormitories
Functionality of study hall Residents from different departments

 Functionality of wet areas

Time for hot water supply Relationship between rooms and WC-bathroom
 Socialization
Preferred number of residents for rooms Spaces for spare time activities
 Suggestions
Design for ideal dormitory room Location of wet areas Spaces for spare time
activities
WHAT DO STUDENTS NEED IN A DORMITORY?

1. Sleeping Spaces
One of the most important functions of a dorm room is to provide a space for sleeping and
relaxing. 
2. Study Spaces
Many students see their dorm rooms as one of the primary places in which to study.
3. Communal Kitchen
A Community Kitchen is a group of people who meet on a regular basis to plan, cook and share
healthy, affordable meals. Community Kitchens Groups are for everyone, and can be run
anywhere there is a kitchen (churches, schools, neighborhood houses, community health
services, workplaces, Men's Sheds etc.).
4. Dining Areas
Dining areas in dormitories could be adjacent to communal kitchen for convenience of
students’/housing participants.
5. Toilet and Bath
6. Closets
7. Public toilets
8. Security Rooms
9. Study Hall
10. Entertainment Area
11. Fire Exits
Examples of how each spaces can be planned:
Communal kitchen Dining area

Fire Exit Hallway Entertainment Area

HOW CAN I FIT IT TO THE PHILIPPINE WEATHER/CONTEXT?

1. Aptly put by architect Joven Ignacio, “ATROPICAL HOUSE BELONGS IN A TROPICAL

ENVIRONMENT.” This type of house is immediately appropriate for our climate, which
Joven relates, is all in extremes. “We have high humidity…strong winds, we have a lot of
sunlight, [and] we have pests because of the high water content in the air.” Architect Joel
Muñoz shares the same view, “I would say tropical design responds and addresses the
climactic requirements of the tropics.” 
2. CREATE A CONTEMPORARY BAHAY KUBO. For all architects, the bahay kubo is the
model of a perfect tropical home. “The house-on-stilts form, while perfect for hot/humid
climates…is our most economical answer to the environment. It is cheap, it is fast [to
build,] it is easy to re-locate or even replace,” explains architect Vincent Martin Pinpin,
who affectionately refers to the traditional bahay kubo as “TBK.”
3. BE CULTURE-SENSITIVE. Make your tropical home apt in the province or area you are
in, says Joven. “Culture of a people is very important…look at the behavioral patterns of
the ones who will be living in it, the historical background of the family. If your family
grew up in Metro Manila, iba ang kultura, mas harassed, yung nasa labas ng Metro
Manila, medyo laidback.”
4. PLAN WITH RAIN IN MIND. Admits architect John Pangilinan, “rain is a part of tropical
design…we have six, or even seven or eight months of rain, and that has to be
incorporated into [the] design, and use it for sustainable purposes. [I] like using rain
water for watering the plants, creating storage for it.”
5. DO PROPER SOLAR ORIENTATION. Where your house is located in a lot and the
location of its openings is crucial to having a cool and comfortable home.
6. DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF BRISE-SOLEIL. Simply put, brise-soleil means “sun
shades,” exterior architectural elements made out of wood or metal placed over window
openings.
7. GO FOR WIDER EAVES. Longer and wider eaves (that part of the roof that hangs over
the walls of your house) shield parts of the house from sun and rain.
8. HAVE A STEEPER PITCH. “A steep roof slope allows rainwater to flow down faster, and
creates a larger void between roof surface and ceiling. The air [in this void] circulates,
and cools the home.”
9. CHOOSE LOW-THERMAL CONDUCTIVE MATERIALS FOR THE BUILDING
ENVELOPE
10. CLAY ROOF TILES - It’s a technology that was imported from America during the war
and that was the easiest material to use. 
11. HAVE AN OPEN PLAN LAYOUT. “Considering that most Filipino properties are small,
the lesser walls you have, the better the ventilation, and better communication in terms
of interaction.”
12. UTILIZE PASSIVE COOLING. Passive cooling simply means cooling the house without
using artificial air conditioning. This is the trademark of a tropical home, and this means
having wide window openings, and employing the next few techniques. 
13. HIGH CEILINGS ARE THE TROPICAL NORM. Hot air rises, so a higher ceiling means
that hot air has space to circulate, and the space would be less humid and stuffy. 
14. EMPLOY ALL METHODS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY. Tropical homes are by nature
energy-efficient, as they do not need artificial air conditioning or lighting during the day.
15. MAKE IT A MONOCHROME PALETTE AND LIGHT, REFLECTIVE COLORS. “A
monochromatic color scheme brightens the space, gives the illusion of it being bigger
than it actually is and cool to the senses.
16. CUT DOWN ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING IN THE DAYTIME. Wide window openings ensure
proper lighting during the day.
17. GO NATURAL. “We want to keep colors to a minimal level, because we want it [to look]
natural,” avers John. “If you look at nature, they [have] simple colors—greens, browns,
beige, whites—and we would like to complement the environment.” 
18. SE INDIGENOUS MATERIALS. “Houses should be allowed to breathe.” “The materials
used should also be allowed to breathe, because we have a humid environment.”
BUILDING MATERIALS TO BE USED FOR TROPICAL DORMITORY
Weather in the Philippines can range from intense heat to a raging storm within a couple of
hours. This is why construction materials for Philippine houses must make the structure durable
and weather resistant. Here are some common materials used to make Philippine houses.

Concrete
Concrete is a combination of three materials: aggregate, water, and cement. Aggregate can be
rocks, gravel, or sand. These materials are mixed together, shaped, and left to harden. Due to
its components, concrete is extremely flexible and can be formed into multiple shapes and
sizes.
Most structures found in the Philippines (residential and commercial) are made of concrete.
Since the land these homes and buildings are built on can easily be affected by the weather, it
is crucial to create a stable base to ensure the structure’s safety. Some choose a combination of
concrete and steel as its base. The concrete creates a protective barrier over the steel to
prevent rusting. In the Philippines, an H Pile is a popular base because it can secure a home
from natural calamities.
Concrete is also used for the creation of walls and other structural parts of a house. Reinforced
concrete beams and columns are utilized to strengthen the entire home. A good structural
design is one that uses different kinds of reinforcements to create a cohesive and stable
structure.

Wood
Wood is a good material as it is lightweight and easy to find locally. It can be used to add both
aesthetic and support to a home. In terms of aesthetic, wood can be seen in architectural styles
such as log cabins that are made purely of wood. It is a favorite for those who want to be one
with nature at all times.
It can also be combined with other construction materials such as different metals or bricks to
achieve a more industrial look. The combination of different materials can be a good and unique
way to secure a home. For example, a wooden frame can be mounted with a metal plate on a
concrete frame in order to anchor it all together.
Doors and its frames are also more often than not made of wood because of its lightweight
property. The frames that surround the door’s four sides are called its jambs. These jambs are
what secure the door and hold it in place, whether opened or closed. Metal plates are screwed
in to help reduce friction between the pieces of wood.

Metals
The most common kind of metal in Philippine construction is steel. This is because steel can be
produced quickly and in big batches, which makes it ideal for local construction businesses.
Steel in the Philippines is mostly used to support walls, roofs, and the base of structures.
Steel is combined with concrete in order to protect it from being exposed to the environment.
This creates solid support or foundation for a home’s walls. A number of Philippine houses also
use steel sheets for its roofs and roof support. In terms of support, steel beams are welded
together into columns that form trusses. This type of roof design is an added safety precaution
to help protect the home from strong winds.
In the Philippines, an H Pile is a strong H-shaped metal base for homes as it can withstand
incredibly heavy loads. Its shape also makes it ideal to be used in soil that is difficult to
penetrate. Its H-shaped design can absorb impact well from earthquakes and other natural
disasters.
Bricks
Bricks are usually formed from clay and are good for dry climates. These are easy to use as
there are already pre-shaped bricks that can be easily stacked. Bricks are popular in the
Philippines as it creates a smooth design with clean corners.
Take note that it would be best to use brick in a home that is not constantly affected by intense
storms. These extreme conditions could soften the clay, which would ultimately affect the
structural stability of the home. However, there are more advanced bricks available that have
gone through high heat. Look for these kinds of bricks as they are weather resistant, fire
resistant, and more durable.
Glass
The location of a Philippine home is planned well in order to have a good view of the area’s
natural landscape. Homes in the Philippines also place windows in strategic areas to promote a
good airflow within its walls. Besides its aesthetic qualities, glass is now being used as structural
support in modern style homes. Large windows replace walls to create a sleeker looking
structure.

Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles are usually found in kitchens and bathrooms. This is because ceramic is water
resistant, which makes any stains easy to clean. Ceramic is also popular as there are a number
of different designs customers can choose from depending on the style of their home.
Key Takeaway
There are a number of trusted local sources where you can get high-quality construction
materials for Philippine houses. Make use of a combination of these different construction
materials to find the best fit for your home’s chosen architectural style. Use only high-quality
materials to ensure that the structure you are making is secure enough to withstand the
country’s extreme weather.

KEY ARCHITECTURE STYLES THAT CAN BE APPLIED FOR TROPICAL DORMITORY

Modernist
Modernism is a blanket term given to a movement at the turn of the 20th Century and can
include styles such as Futurism, Post-modern and New Classical. Forms were intended to be
free of unnecessary detail and focus on simplicity and there is an honoring of the materials used
rather than concealing them.
Key features: Lack of the decorative, low buildings, use of modern materials, interaction with
interior and exterior spaces, use of sun and shading for human comfort, use of glass and natural
light.

Brutalism
Brutalism is a style with an emphasis on materials, textures and construction, producing highly
expressive forms.
Key features: Featuring visually heavy edifices with geometric lines, solid concrete frames,
exaggerated slabs, double height ceilings, massive forbidding walls, exposed concrete and a
predominantly monochrome palette, brutalist buildings prioritized function over form, and
stripped-back minimalism over flashy design.
EXISITING DORMITORY I FIND CONVENIENT AND COMMENDABLE

THE MARANDNEST DORMITORY

(corner, Upper Bonifacio St., Baguio City, 2600 Benguet, Philippines)

Intelligently designed rooms combining style and functionality.

FOUR-PERSON DORMITORY ROOM

Rooms include...
 Two double-bunks w/ Mattresses and Pillows
 Toilet and Bath w/ Hot & Cold Shower
 Study/Dining Table w/ Chairs
 Individual Closets with Locks
 Cupboard and Additional Cabinet

Floorplan
Each room has an ensuite bathroom with shower and toilet, 2 x double bunk beds, a study area,
shower, personal lockers, a table that acts as a second study table and more. The rooms are
tiled and have natural light.
TWO-PERSON DORMITORY ROOM
Rooms include...
 1 double-bunks w/ Mattresses and Pillows
 Toilet and Bath w/ Hot & Cold Shower
 Study/Dining Table w/ Chairs
 Individual Closets with Locks
 Cupboard

Floorplan
Each room has an ensuite bathroom with shower and toilet, 2 x single beds, a study area,
shower, personal lockers, a table that acts as a second study table and more. The rooms are
tiled and have natural light.
FACILITIES

Gym and Exercise Area TV Area

Gaming Area Laundry Area

Dining Area Communal Kitchen

Study Room Security and Management

PRICING

ROOM TYPE PRICE

Rooms good for 4 persons w/o balcony Php4,500
Rooms good for 4 persons w/ balcony Php5,000
Rooms good for 2 persons (FULL) Php5,000

Includes free use of all amenities including the fitness gym, wifi internet, TV area, gaming area,
computer room, library, elevator, kitchen w/ LPG, hot & cold shower and 24-hour security

 
Reference:

https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-is-a-dormitory

https://www.slideshare.net/NaveenJamal/dormitory-case-studies#:~:text=A%20dormitory%20or
%20hall%20of,and%20college%20or%20university%20students.

https://www.brynmawr.edu/residential-life/dorm-tours/sleeping-spaces

Design_of_Living_Spaces_in_Dormitories’

https://www.realliving.com.ph/home-improvement/building-renovating/building-101-25-tips-for-a-
tropical-home

http://marandnest.com/main.php?page=feedbacks