A Space to breathe

Case Studies

 

 

 

To further investigate the need for a new breathing space for students, I decided to carefully watch how the current 'chill out' spaces on campus were being used. My case studies will all be based on spaces at Nottingham Trent University, due to the fact that this will be the target group for my final design project. By analysing what is provided at NTU, and speaking to the students whom I will be designing for, this will hopefully provide me with relevant information to offer something that is specifically needed at this university. 

 

The first area that came to mind was the infamous Newton Atrium central area, where a very large number of students pass through every day, but I had my doubts about all the scattered furniture in the space being used as frequently as they perhaps should be.

Following on from that, I will be analysing how certain areas are used in the newly built Students Union, with a particular focus on the Lounge Area in the basement level. The SU has been furnished with many different styles of brightly coloured furniture and I want to find out if these seats are being used for long periods of time, or mostly as a meeting point.

My third case study will be the Wellbeing Centre based at the Clifton campus. I have chosen to focus on this space because it seems to be one of the very few areas designated to student’s general well-being. I want to find out what is provided there, if it is successful, and how often it gets used.