A Space to breathe
Interior Architecture & Design
NTU - SU Lounge
 Fig. 43NTSU |  Fig.44NTSU |  Fig.45NTSU |
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 Fig.46NTSU |  Fig.47NTSU |  Fig.48NTSU |
 Fig.49NTSU |  Fig.50NTSU |  Fig.51NTSU |
 Fig.52NTSU |  Fig.53NTSU |
The newly built Student’s Union provides “two large Wi-Fi lounges, café bars and an underground retreat for students to relax in and mingle” (Anonymous, NTU website).
The main level, where the Costa café is located, has a very busy atmosphere due to its bright colourful seating, the many different materials used, and just the general scattered layout of the furniture. The various shapes and sizes of seating create a young, ‘student-like’ space and the large surrounding windows provide plenty of natural light.
Although the seats may generally be comfortable, this is not a relaxing space due to the noisy environment, which means it becomes a lively socialising space. Most of these seats are busy throughout the day, where students use the space to gather with friends, have lunch, or kill time between lectures due its convenient central location on campus.
In the basement level, the SU provides a completely different setting: A Lounge. This small area has been furnished throughout with matching dark leather seats, dark tables, dark red accents and small table lamps. The intention was clearly to create a quiet, relaxing environment, however, there is a void above the space that opens out directly into the main vibrant SU area. This means the lounge space does not quite function as it should, because it just becomes an extension to the SU rather than a separate quite area. The noise from the ground level is easily projected down into the lounge area, and feels quite intrusive. The colours and lighting still provide a calmer space, but it does not work as a relaxing lounge.
 Fig. 54NTSU Lounge |  Fig.55NTSU Lounge |  Fig.56NTSU Lounge |
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 Fig.57NTSU Lounge |  Fig.58NTSU Lounge |  Fig.59NTSU Lounge |
When asked how they feel about the ‘Chill Out’ spaces at NTU (Questionnaire 1), students have mentioned the following to me regarding the SU areas:
“The Costa is cosy, buts it's a small space so it's often rammed with people, not ideal when trying to chill out”
“That room next to the gym, under Costa in the SU? I never really used it”
“There aren't enough spaces to chill out at uni - the new students union isn't big enough to accommodate many people”
“I only enjoy them for socializing with people, but not when I want to be by myself. I would visit the SU for social gatherings”
Although others also responded with positive comments such as “The SU is one of my most visited places to chill out within the university”, the majority of responses in regards to relaxing, viewed the SU as inappropriate due to noise levels and busyness.
My analysis of these factors lead me to believe that in order for a quite relaxing space to be successful at university, this needs to be well contained and properly separated from the socializing areas so that noise levels are kept isolated. I like certain aspects of the Lounge area with its darker ambience, but the lighting almost seems a little too harsh.
I believe the SU provides a good design for the socialising space, and it is proven popular by the large number of students constantly using it, however it is always very busy and students have given feedback that it is not big enough. This would need to be reflected in my design to create a spacious socializing area with plenty of seating, perhaps with better space planning.
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