NIU Student Dormitory no.3

國立宜蘭大學三號學舍
NIU Student Dormitory no.3

Yilan, Taiwan
Residential Amenity Space
Ongoing

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In response to growing housing demand and the need for a safer, higher-quality learning environment, National Ilan University faces an urgent shortage of student accommodation. In the 2022–2023 academic year, the university had 5,583 students but only 1,524 dormitory beds—an occupancy rate of just 27.3%, far below the average for public universities in Taiwan. This shortfall affects not only incoming freshmen but also returning students, whose rights to campus housing are increasingly limited. Most existing dormitories have been in use for over 25 years, requiring significant annual maintenance. Off-campus housing is both limited and costly, with added safety and logistical concerns. As the university aims to enhance its image as a modern higher education institution, providing safe and student-centered housing has become a pressing priority.

Dormitories are more than just temporary shelters—they are platforms for shared living and a transition into society. With a focus on modern urban co-living, the new dormitory design supports both the practical needs of students and the cultivation of autonomy and social connection. It offers spaces for active and quiet interaction, encouraging collaboration, sharing, and openness as part of a holistic learning experience grounded in a student-first philosophy.

Historically, student dorms resembled military barracks—functional but lacking attention to aesthetics and the diversity of student life. Today, the university dormitory is reimagined as a space that nurtures personal growth and shapes human connection. By breaking down physical and social boundaries between grades and departments, and by opening dormitory spaces to informal learning and daily life, this project aims to extend the classroom into the dorm. In doing so, it fosters spontaneous encounters among students and even with the local community. Ultimately, this redefinition of public and private realms within the student housing experience aims to cultivate a deeper sense of belonging.