Student-Centred Design: How Architecture Shapes Campus Life

Ar. Grace George, Assistant Professor, DC School of Architecture and Design, Vagamon.

Spaces, both built and unbuilt have the special power to influence, inspire and transform the life of its users to a certain extent. Spaces inside a campus are thus crucial in shaping a student’s life and helping them grow stronger to achieve their goals. Certain spaces in a campus can make them more productive, focused etc. while some other spaces help them relax and help create bonds of friendship.

Student centred design plays a vital role in campuses these days, since every design decision can have an influence on them in one way or the other. The spaces we create must not only respond to a student’s needs but also influence them to be better versions of themselves. Through architecture we can create valuable spaces inside a campus that can influence their behaviour, mental health as well as social interaction.

Different indoor and outdoor spaces, the type of lighting whether natural or artificial, furniture used, green spaces etc contributes to different learning experiences and sweet memories of their campus lives. A cosy study place inside a library, a hangout green space near the café, an amphitheatre, an open-air class room, all put forward wide varieties of experiences to different students. The spaces inside a well-designed campus enhances its beauty, and at the same time helps students enjoy learning by making their lives stress free. It also helps create a sense of belonging for them.

Looking into the campus life of architecture students, each space inside a campus is a learning material for them. The design, the structural elements used, the landscape features etc serve as a practical example or cases for them to observe, think, analyse, and learn. Since design discussions are not limited to the four walls of a classroom, every space of a campus, be it inside or outside a building should bring out their creativity and help them think out of the box. It is crucial for architecture students to learn how spaces affect human behaviour and thus their own campuses become their first example. Therefore, student centred campus designs create learning spaces for the student community as well as create experiences from which they learn important life lessons. Campus designs are thus crucial in bringing up a strong future generation that have strong values and sense of togetherness.