1. The Benefits of Multi-Functional Within
Student Accommodation
A thesis submitted for the degree of
BTech Level 7
Timber Product Technology
Presented By
Mr. Cormac Lynch
2nd
May 2016
Head of School
Orna Hanley
Research Supervisor
Andrew Stuart
2. I
Table of Contents
Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................I
Table of Figures......................................................................................................................... II
Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................IV
Introduction ................................................................................................................................1
Housing (Small Apartments and Student Accommodation) ......................................................3
Housing types .........................................................................................................................3
Small Housing Options...........................................................................................................7
Multifunctional Furniture .........................................................................................................13
History ..................................................................................................................................13
Modern Multifunctional Furniture........................................................................................15
Multifunctional Beds............................................................................................................21
Student Accommodation Analysis ...........................................................................................31
Survey and Survey Results Analysis....................................................................................38
Question 1.............................................................................................................................38
Question 2.............................................................................................................................39
Question 3.............................................................................................................................40
Question 4.............................................................................................................................41
Question 5.............................................................................................................................42
Question 6.............................................................................................................................43
Question 7.............................................................................................................................44
Questions 8 & 9....................................................................................................................45
Question 10...........................................................................................................................46
Conclusion................................................................................................................................47
Works Cited..............................................................................................................................48
Appendix ..................................................................................................................................51
Student Survey Questionnaire ..............................................................................................51
5. IV
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my lecturer and thesis supervisor Andrew Stuart for all of his help and
assistance throughout the production of this thesis and my previous three years in DIT.
I would also like to thank my classmates, family and friends for their help and support.
6. 1
Introduction
The aim of this thesis is to analyse the need for multi functional furniture within student
accommodation and to a lesser extent small space living such as studio apartments. The
current need for student accommodation within Dublin city is a major problem facing not
only students but also the third level institutes themselves. Comfort, space and storage are
some of the major problems facing student accommodation in Dublin’s current rental market.
Within this thesis different areas and aspects of student accommodation will be analysed to
identify the problems and provide possible solutions that could be easily implemented to
alleviate the problems and improve the accommodation for the occupants and the letting
agent/owner of the property. Areas such as floor space in the bedroom, storage space in the
bedroom and work/desk space in the bedroom will be investigated through extensive research
and a survey carried out to identify the needs of current third level students.
The initial analysis will explore housing types and size statistics throughout the world with a
more intensive view comparing standards within Ireland to Europe in the area of small space
living and apartment life. Following on from this, Ireland’s new building regulations, in
regards to minimum new build apartment sizes in an effort to encourage better planning and
more creative approaches to the design of apartment buildings without encroaching on the
occupants need for privacy and space will be researched, examined and compared to
international building standards in similar areas.
Before Ireland’s approach to alleviating the accommodation shortage problem facing students
is analysed, two other cities with very comparable accommodation problems (Vancouver and
Amsterdam) will be studied. Their approaches to these problems and the solutions they
implemented will be analysed to identify if these methods could be used in Ireland. These two
cities have used two different methods to combat their situation, Amsterdam University’s
accommodation is owned, maintained and was built by an external contractor, Vancouver
have decided to build and install on campus accommodation for its students by engaging new
technologies and building methods to create pod based apartments for its students.
Multifunctional furniture is the main area of focus within this thesis and a varied range of
products have been chosen to be investigated in regards their usefulness for small space living
and student accommodation. Ranges such as the Boxetti kitchen range and Irish designer Orla
Reynolds’ ‘As if from nowhere…’ range are just two of the pieces chosen for their
adaptability and possible inclusion in future accommodation building projects. The main areas
7. 2
of adaptable furniture chosen for in-depth research are beds. Wall beds/Murphy beds and beds
with built in desks and integrated storage are researched as they provide the greatest scope to
be used in student accommodation.
This thesis also investigates the design and layout of the new student accommodation
currently being built on Bonham St., Dublin 8 and how the implementation of some different
types of adaptable furniture could greatly improve the personal space of the students who will
occupy the units. To back up the suggestions and proposals made in this thesis regarding
furniture in student accommodation some students were anonymously asked to complete a
survey in which they outlined the facilities their current accommodation has in place and what
aspects of accommodation they felt were most important to them. The survey also covered
other areas of student accommodation such as rental costs and satisfaction with their
accommodation.
Throughout this thesis the need for new and designated student accommodation shall be
identified with possible solutions which have been implemented in other countries which have
a similar student demographic and need for new accommodation. There are also many
examples and suggestions of how multifunctional furniture within new student
accommodation can be used to greatly improve the personal space and bedroom facilities for
third level students.
8. 3
Housing (Small Apartments and Student Accommodation)
Housing types
In 2014, four out of every ten persons in the EU lived in flats, just over one quarter (25.6 %)
in semi-detached houses and just over one third (33.7 %) in detached house (eurostat, 2015).
The country with the highest proportion of population who reside in apartments is Spain with
an average of 66.5% of the overall population. In the United States the average population
living in apartments is 30% of all households (National Multifamily Housing Council, 2014).
Although Ireland has a relatively small percentage of its population living in apartments(4.5%
as of 2013 (eurostat, 2015)) compared to other EU countries as can be seen in the figure
below, it is none the less on the rise. With a total of 60% of Ireland’s population (Kaiser
Family Foundation, 2016) living in urban areas, small apartments and small living spaces are
becoming a thing of the future through not only a desire to continue living in an urban area
but also a necessity. It is for this reason that we need to look at providing better more efficient
and adaptable small homes and livings spaces.
Figure 1 - http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics
Statistic relative to Ireland.
9. 4
When compared to China with 54% (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2016) of its overall
population living in urban areas Ireland has a comparable average even though there is a huge
population difference. China’s State Council has introduced legislation determining that 70%
of all newly built housing shall be small apartments of no more than 90m² (Sima, 2015). This
legislation is not only being used to accommodate the rising urban population but also to look
at the way in which the living spaces are used and interpreted through factors such as
atmosphere, efficiency, pleasantness and design originality (Sima, 2015).
Similarly Ireland is currently introducing legislation in regards to the floor area of newly built
apartments. The Irish regulation has set out that a studio apartment will have to be a minimum
of 40m², a one bedroom apartment will have to be a minimum of 45m², a two bedroom apartment
will have to be a minimum of 73m² and a three bedroom apartment will have to be a minimum of
90m² (Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, 2015). Internal
apartment storage guidelines have been set at 3m² for both one bedroom apartments and studio
apartments, 6m² for two bedroom apartments and 9m² for three bedroom apartments (Department
of the Environment, Community and Local Government, 2015). This internal storage area should
be additional to kitchen presses and bedroom furniture, but may be partly provided in these
rooms. In such cases where it is included in these rooms this storage must be in addition to
minimum floor space permitted under the new proposed regulations.
These regulations do not limit the size of new apartment builds but are aimed at removing the old
‘bed sit’ scenario from the Irish property market. They do however allow developers to build to
these sizes given that they meet certain criteria as set out in the guidelines. This is leading to an
ever increasing number of people living in small spaces which will need to be well designed and
fitted with well thought out multi functional adaptable furniture which allows the occupants to
manipulate their living spaces to meet their needs and requirements.
The rise of apartments as an accommodation type in Ireland has continued between 2006 and
2011 according to the census. There were 177,587 occupied purpose-built or converted
apartments in 2011, an increase of 27 per cent on the 2006 figure of 139,872. Apartments
accounted for 10.9 per cent of all household types in 2011, compared with 9.7 per cent in
2006. Dublin City had the highest proportion of apartments as a household type at 32.4 per
cent, while Roscommon had the lowest with 2.4 per cent (Central Statistics Office, 2012).
10. 5
As can be seen in the table below Irelands household size has changed dramatically over the
past 30 years. The two major groups which have changed the most in percentages are the one
person household and the two person household. These two groups have increased by 5% and
6% respectively from 1981 to 2004 (The Hague: Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom
Relations, 2010). Compared with what was the more standard three and four member
households which increased by a mere 3% and 2% respectively this is quite a change not only
in the population demographic but also in the future housing requirements of the Irish
population.
11. 6
Distribution of household size (%)
Figure 2 - Housing Statistics in the European Union 2010 pg 30
The figure below shows the number of people per household/occupied dwelling. As can be
seen in the graph the average number of persons per occupied dwelling throughout Europe is
decreasing. Ireland is no different with a drop from an average of 3.8 persons per household
in 1980 to 2.9 persons per household in 2004 (The Hague: Ministry of the Interior and
Kingdom Relations, 2010, p. 68). This in turn will lead to the creation and need for smaller
living spaces to accommodate the changing nature of our population.
Figure 3 - housing statistic in eu pdf pg 68
12. 7
As research has shown by 2025 single person household will equal households containing
family groups with children (Shore, 2014). This creates a not just a huge market for small
apartments and studio apartments but also a huge market and need for adaptable furniture to
fit those small spaces.
Small Housing Options
With the cost of materials and cost of building in general ever rising new and innovative ways
of living are being ever sought after. Not only in Ireland but in all major cities is there
becoming an accommodation shortage, especially affordable housing.
This is not just the case for single people who work and live in urban areas but somewhat
more importantly for students attending college or further education. Students in particular
seem to be one major demographic who are suffering most because of the current housing
crisis/problems in Ireland. With the Higher Education Authority identifying a shortfall of
25,000 beds for students annually and set to continue for the future (Donnelly, 2015) there is
obviously a need for smaller adaptable living space for students.
One example of a solution to this problem is the unique approach of the University of British
Columbia on its Vancouver campus. It has developed a proposed single person
accommodation unit called the ‘Nano Suite’ which consists of a floor space of only 13m²
(University of British Columbia, 2016). Within this unit there is a bathroom, kitchen, and an
adaptable study/sleeping space.
Figure 4 - http://vancouver.housing.ubc.ca/rooms/nano
13. 8
Figure 5 - http://vancouver.housing.ubc.ca/rooms/nano
The previous figures show the interior of the proposed Nano Suite with the multifunctional
bed/desk and the overall floor plan layout of the unit respectively. Available floor space
within this Nano Suite has been very carefully considered. The fold down bed with desk has
been installed to free up much needed space and also to provide a useable workspace for the
occupant. The kitchenette has been placed in such a way that the worktop could also be used
as a space upon which a laptop could be positioned while the occupant is lying in bed whether
watching movies on their laptop or just relaxing. This is an important factor when designing a
space for students as today’s student tends to use their laptops as a source of entertainment
such as watching movies as well as using it for educational purposes. It is for this reason that
it is of no benefit to install a television viewing area within a single student occupancy
apartment. The overall size of the kitchenette area is proportionate to the amount of use it
would receive from a single student occupant. Although the space in the Nano Suite does
seem constricted there is still enough available floor area in which to entertain a small number
of friends if the occupant so wished. The proposed rental cost of €450 per month compared to
the average Vancouver Student rent of €660 per month is a huge saving for students and also
allows provides on campus living. While this novel approach to providing adequate
multifunctional accommodation is not due to be available until 2019 it does show how the use
of adaptable furniture can be used to create multiple spaces from a small floor space.
As previously mentioned this is a worldwide problem. This problem was recognized in 2004
by the Amsterdam City Government in regards to the University of Amsterdam which does
not have a traditional campus, and demand for student housing is high where in 2004, more
than 6,000 students were on a waiting list for student housing (Caroline Uittenbroek, 2009).
14. 9
The solution in this case was to provide 1,000 student accommodation units in the form of re-
purposed shipping containers designed and created by Tempohousing. Each of these units is
30m² in size with two rooms and a separate bathroom. The building cost of these units at the
time of construction was €20,000(risen to €26,000 as of 2009) which is considerably less than
standard construction methods used in Amsterdam which work out at an average of €40,000
(Turner and Townsend, 2013). Another huge benefit was the short timeline (20-25 units per
day) upon which these units could be installed and made ready for moving in. Initially this
student accommodation project was to be a temporary solution and was granted a five year
lease on a previously vacant plot which covers 4.5 acres. Due to its success in affordability,
practicality and popularity with students attending Amsterdam University it was granted
permanent status in 2011 (Forrest, 2015). The following figures show the student container
accommodation aerial view, exterior view, interior view and layout respectively.
Figure 6 - Aerial view https://www.pdx.edu/sites
16. 11
Figure 9 - Layout https://www.pdx.edu/sites
As can be seen with the two previous models for student accommodation small spaces can
work very well for this scenario. Both of the models discussed have two different approaches
to creating an adaptable student space. The Canadian model of a student small space is a
smaller floor space using a more modern technique of building and design utilising adaptable
furniture in its space. The Amsterdam university version of the student space is a slightly
more low-tech model but does contain a greater floor space. Although it does contain modern
energy efficient heating systems, water heating system and ventilation systems it could be
improved by using more adaptable furniture within the unit. Within the apartment there is still
lots of available floor space available to the occupant whether it is for entertaining guests or
just relaxing on their own. As is shown in the previous images the bed/sitting room area
would be an acceptable size for a single student occupant but it could be greatly improved by
installing a fold down bed with desk such as is used in the Nano Suite. The installation of a
bed unit such as this would allow the occupant to study and sleep in the bedroom area which
in turn would free up extra space in the kitchen area which the students currently use for
studying. Another addition which would improve the overall occupant’s personal space within
the apartment would be extra storage units. These could be in the form of a bed with
integrated storage underneath or could be in the form of a couch which has storage space built
into its design. The addition of a couch with storage or a couch which has extra seating within
it would give the occupant the option of rearranging their space more efficiently to suit their
requirements. It would also create the extra space in which they could then entertain friends
whether it is watching some movies on their laptop or cooking a meal together.
17. 12
These student accommodation models could easily be applied to the current Irish student
accommodation crisis. According to the Irish HEA report the cost of building student
accommodation in Ireland is €85,000 for each student bed. The following figure shows the
imbalance of available beds as they increase upon completion and the demand for beds from
student in higher education in Ireland (Higher Education Authority (HEA), 2015). Through
the figure below it is clear to see that the increase in beds available to future students is
insufficient to the rising number of students seeking accommodation. It is for this fact that a
better and more effective manner of housing students needs to be implemented, simply
building houses and apartments for the sake of building them does not work as Dublin
colleges are centrally localised students housing must therefore be proportionately localised
also. One method of alleviating the stress placed on the student housing crisis would be to
create more student friendly accommodation which would involve using a different approach
to the design of these spaces than is usually employed. One such way is to investigate the use
of space within proposed units and how to not only increase the number of students who may
live in these units but also improve the student’s personal living space.
Figure 10 - http://www.hea.ie/sites/default/files
If models such as the ones previously discussed were to be adopted by Irish colleges as a
method in which to tackle the housing crisis it would work out to be beneficial for both the
student who would be able to live closer to the college or university, socialise with other
students and peers from the college and it would also be beneficial to the college/university as
they would have a definite source of income.
18. 13
Multifunctional Furniture
History
Adaptable and multifunctional furniture has been used throughout history. People have
always strived to make a better home and a more efficient space by utilising the area and
furniture around them to create innovative space solving solutions.
Houses known as ‘byre dwellings’ used in the 1800’s were simple farmer’s cottages where
animals were housed inside along with the occupants. These houses had very little inner space
and as such used an early version of adaptable furniture such as the wall table pictured below.
The table would have been folded away at night when not in use. This image was taken from
the Bunratty castle collection in Co. Clare.
Figure 11 - Wall table Bunratty Castle
Irish homes not only used fold down tables in their homes but also settle beds which
functioned as a couch/seat during the day and could be converted into a bed at night gaining
the household extra space when needed. Early Japanese homes used light pieces of furniture,
cushions and pillows to create adaptable spaces within their homes to meet different needs
and conditions in the house. This was particularly important in Japanese culture because of
the limited natural and spatial resources available to them for building their homes (Deal,
2005). These early versions of adaptable piece of furniture show the inventiveness of people
to adapt and use pieces to create a better living space for themselves. One particular piece of
multifunctional furniture which has gone through many different changes and designs is the
19. 14
writing bureau. The following image shows an early writing bureau from the 17th
century.
This style of writing bureau was extremely popular because of its adaptability and
multifunctional use which the user could employ whenever needed.
Figure 12 - https://www.onekingslane.com/info/home/the-bureau-desk/index.html
This piece of furniture is one who’s initial purpose which is to act as a place at which to write
letters carry out personal business and its secondary function is to be a space in which
documents can be stored. It may not be an obvious choice when considering multifunctional
furniture but once the writing leaf and the drawers are closed it simply melds into the
background in an inconspicuous way such as any other piece of furniture will within a home
or office. One of the more extravagant design alterations to the writing desk in my opinion is
the architect’s cabinet designed by Eileen Gray in 1925. This design brought the writing
bureau from being a simple object used when writing letters to a fully function architects
office when fully opened. As can be seen in the following image it is a piece which is not only
beautiful but also extremely functional.
20. 15
Figure 13 - https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/storage-case-pieces
It is obvious from this pieces design that Eileen Gray desired to create a functional item upon
which an architect may work but also to create something which would be unobtrusive and
space saving in whatever setting it was placed. Once fully opened the architects cabinet
contains all the necessary equipment needed for an architect to work but once finished being
used the cabinet can be fully closed and thusly saving space as most architects desks until this
time were large cumbersome pieces which did not have the integrated storage which Gray’s
design has.
Modern Multifunctional Furniture
Modern materials, processes and design ideas have progressed immensely since then but the
original ethos of improving and working with what you have remains the same. Today
multifunctional furniture controls a major market share with affordable furniture giant IKEA
reporting €28.7 billion in revenue (Gustafsson, 2015). IKEA has created a range of furniture
called the PS range which is solely dedicated to multifunctional furniture for the urban
resident. This range is primarily targeted at people who live in rented accommodation and
move house more often than people who have purchased their own homes. The majority of
this range is designed to be placed in the home without the need for the occupier to drill into
the walls or modify the rented home they live in. Items such as the PS pine table which has
built in drawers in which to store napkins, cutlery and other kitchen utensils and the PS
storage table which is a coffee/low table containing different storage sections within the table
which can also be detached from the table and used as serving trays are examples of how
large multinational companies such as IKEA have begun to answer the need for
multifunctional and adaptable furniture it the current market.
Multi functional furniture not only lends itself to family or two person households but is also
perfectly suited to student living. With the growth of what is being called ‘urban nomads’,
21. 16
(Baumann, 2014) people are now moving house more often than ever. Students especially
move residence a lot whether during their college period or afterwards when travelling or
moving in order to be closer to work or their desired city/area. It is with this in mind that
multifunctional furniture is being designed for. Multifunctional pieces such as foldaway
dining tables, Murphy beds, storage units with hidden furniture even kitchen islands with
complete kitchens inside are being designed with flexibility and space saving in mind.
For example Latvian company Boxetti are a design and manufacture company who design
and create pieces which are completely multifunctional such as the Boxetti Lunch kitchen
module. The Boxetti Lunch is a multifunctional kitchen island that has sliding covers;
underneath which is a built in sink with tap, another moveable work surface hides a cutlery
storage area along with a cutting block for preparing meals. The Lunch kitchen module also
has a built in fridge and two extendable bar stools (BOXETTI, 2016). As can be seen in the
following images the unit can be used as a table surface when fully closed but also reveals a
fully functional kitchen underneath the many moveable surfaces.
Figure 14 - http://design-milk.com/boxetti-multifunctional-furniture/
23. 18
Figure 18 - http://design-milk.com/boxetti-multifunctional-furniture
The Boxetti Lunch is a high end piece of multifunctional furniture, created and designed using
modern technologies. At a cost of €9,200 for the fully finished and integrated unit it may
seem expensive but compared with other conventional kitchens such as Kube kitchens whose
range starts at €5,500 not including appliances (Flegg, 2014); the Boxetti kitchen unit is a
very versatile and relatively affordable piece for a small living space. It is a piece which in
itself takes up very little floor space but has a huge range of versatility within it.
Not all multifunctional furniture is or needs to be as high tech as the Boxetti range, whose
range also covers workspace pieces, media units and bedroom units.
24. 19
Items such as the ‘As if from nowhere...’ range by Irish designer Orla Reynolds is a simpler,
less high tech but just as equally well designed and thought out piece of multifunctional
furniture. Her range of pieces are not only adaptable and space saving but of a modular nature
such that the pieces can be stacked together in a different range of ways to suit the room or
space they are being placed in. Taking a more simplistic approach Orla Reynolds has created
a piece of furniture that is not only a bookshelf but also contains tables and chairs as well
depending on the consumers needs. As can be seen in the images below the pieces are very
well thought out and designed to suit any living space but in particular small spaces.
Figure 19 - http://www.orlareynolds.com/features.asp
Figure 20 - http://www.orlareynolds.com/features.asp
26. 21
As can be seen in the previous figures the ‘As if from nowhere...’ range is a very functional
piece of storage when not in use. But it’s most important feature is when the tables and chairs
are removed from their storage positions to be used. The variability of the way these pieces
can be arranged within a space is extremely important for small space living. When purchased
as a set the range consists of four chairs, two tables and six bookcase compartments which
altogether contain sixteen storage compartments. At a cost of €4,430 for the complete set
(REYNOLDS, 2015)and delivered fully assembled it provides the small home owner a very
functional and adaptable piece of furniture. As it can also be purchased in separate parts
depending on the consumers requirements it is a very versatile design that would be suitable
for some student accommodation and young professionals. The price may not be something a
student could be able to afford but it is definitely something that a landlord or property
management company could easily invest in for current and future student occupants as its
design allows it to suit a different range of users, as a piece of furniture its structure and build
quality is something that letting agents who sometimes worry about damage to furniture in
rented accommodation would not have to be concerned about. The fact that the ‘As if from
nowhere…’ range is available to purchase in sections is a feature which should be very to
property managers as they would not need to buy the entire range if they were fitting out a
two bedroom apartment or a studio flat for instance.
Multifunctional Beds
One of the most common forms of multifunctional furniture is the ‘Murphy’ bed. This folding
bed is the main piece most people will think of first when considering the idea of
multifunctional furniture. In recent years the usefulness and need for multifunctional furniture
has become ever more apparent with the trend of homes and studio apartments becoming ever
smaller.
Companies such as ‘Resource furniture’ have dedicated their entire range of furniture to
multifunctional pieces, not only ‘Murphy’ beds but also a range of furniture to suit every
client and every room within a house. Their range covers areas such as studio apartments,
dining room, living room, and office with a vast array of products encompassing pieces such
as wall beds, transforming tables, seating and storage units. Resource furniture has been
involved in some high profile apartment outfittings such as the micro apartments in Carmel
place in New York City. All of the apartments in this development range from 23m² to 32m²
(Kaysen, 2015).
27. 22
Figure 24 - http://resourcefurniture.com/our-favorite-projects/carmel-place
Figure 25 - http://resourcefurniture.com/our-favorite-projects/carmel-place
As can be seen throughout this thesis multifunctional furniture can enhance even the smallest
seeming of spaces. Although these apartments are aimed at single professionals the concept
could also be quite easily be adapted to student accommodation.
28. 23
The following figures show a range of folding wall beds which are available.
Figure 26 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/lollisoft-sd/
Figure 27 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/lollisoft-sd/
Figure 28 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/lollisoft-sd
The previous figures show the ‘lollisoft’ folding bed available from Resource furniture. This
folding bunk bed configuration would work very well in small spaces such as student
accommodation especially among the younger students who do not need/require the level of
privacy that mature students might want. This configuration would work very well in student
29. 24
accommodation as once one of the two beds are folded away the bottom bunk becomes a
couch/chill out area for the students to relax in. it also contains integrated storage units which
is something that can usually be lacking in most student accommodations.
Figure 29 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/telemaco-work/
Figure 30 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/telemaco-work
30. 25
Figure 31 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/telemaco-work/
The previous figures show the ‘telemaco’ folding bed also by Resource furniture. This
particular version of the folding wall bed is one that would be more suited to a larger student
twin room or a single occupancy studio flat. The ‘telemaco’ bed once folded away reveals a
generous sized workspace. This particular design allows items to be left on the workspace
once the bed is unfolded, as the workspace remains parallel to the floor as the bed is opened.
The generous size of the workspace means that it can double as a home office desk when the
student or user is doing assignments/reports or simply browsing the web or it can also be a
dining table depending on the user’s needs at the time.
The most efficient and popular method of construction of a wall bed is from MDF which is
then sprayed, lacquered or veneered to the customers specification (Wallbeds of Ireland,
2015). The folding mechanism system used is can vary from a simple spring mechanism
which is primarily used for wall beds which are occasionally used to a more industrial gas
piston based system which is installed on beds which are used daily. The integrated desk is
held in a horizontal position even when the bed has been unfolded from the wall by using a
system of simple levers which hold the desk in place and only allow it to tilt according to the
angle of the bed as it is unfolded (Wallbeds of Ireland, 2015).
The following three figures show the ‘kali sofa’ which is a different arrangement of the
folding bed in a more traditional form albeit a modern take on the fold out couch/futon. This
configuration would work very well in a studio apartment or in a one bed student apartment.
The ease of transformation of the piece from bed to sofa shows the versatility of designs like
these to fit and suit their surroundings even when their surroundings are changing their use.
31. 26
It is very easy to see from the figures how folding beds can be an asset in many small
apartments not only in student accommodation. These beds do provide a very versatile and
useful solution to the lack of space and floor area in which students are living and also smaller
micro apartments which are being designed to suit the single person and duo family units.
Figure 32 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/kali-sofa
Figure 33 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/kali-sofa
32. 27
Figure 34 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/kali-sofa
Another example of a dual use bed is a bed with integrated storage underneath the bed’s
frame. Storage units like this can be very simple and basic such as rolling boxes placed
beneath the bed frame where the space would otherwise be wasted. Whilst these boxes are a
cheap way to use the neglected space underneath a bed they don’t fully take advantage of the
space.
A more useful and fully integrated way to use this space is to use a bed which has an under
bed storage system built in. This system utilises two hydraulic or gas struts to help lift the bed
to an elevated angle which then provides access to the underside of the bed frame allowing
the user to take full advantage of the ample storage space underneath the bed.
The following figures show two examples of standard double sized beds using a under bed
storage system. These two figures show a standard height bed which can be found in any
bedroom. The main difference is the under bed storage this bed allows access to by using gas
struts and hinges to lift the mattress and base frame from the bed’s main frame which opens
up to give a large area of storage space underneath which would otherwise be unused or
simply filled with boxes which would be hard to reach and use on a daily basis. As can be
seen in the figures the storage area allows items such as pillows, duvets, bedclothes and other
bulky items to be stored in a previously vacant area. Because of the generous space available
underneath the bed it permits these bulky items to be stored away in a convenient space which
in turn frees up other storage space which would otherwise be filled up with these items.
33. 28
Figure 35 - http://www.lafurniturestore.com/palermo-platform-bed-with-storage.html
Figure 36 - http://www.lafurniturestore.com/palermo-platform-bed-with-storage.html
As can be seen with the bed pictured in the next two figures multiple versions of under bed
storage can be created. This version shows a standard sized bed on a raised platform, the
internal lifting mechanism uses the same mechanised gas struts to raise the bed platform from
the base. The difference the height gives is that it allows the user greater access to the
underside of the bed unit. The built in door gains the user entrance to a greater storage area
than a standard height bed will allow. This configuration can be created by using shelves and
34. 29
drawers in the storage area to store a vast array of items for the user. This style of bed would
be very suited for younger users and is also very prevalent for student accommodation.
As it has added shelves on the exterior of the bed’s base along with the internal storage it
would alleviate the need for storing large or heavy items in standard wardrobes which are
usually of short supply in student accommodation. Given the increased angle at which the
mattress frame tilts to and the added height given by the raised platform it would also be quite
easy to integrate a small desk/study area underneath the bed which would free up otherwise
needed floor and wall space.
Figure 37 - http://88designbox.com/interior-design/space-up-double-bed-145.html
36. 31
Student Accommodation Analysis
The focus of the research in this thesis is the analysis as to the implementation and use of
multifunctional furniture use for student accommodation my research included investigating
the student accommodation units ‘The Binary Hub’ currently being built on Bonham, St.,
Dublin 8. Within this research I focused mainly on the available floor space within the
individual student living areas.
The proposed student accommodation building due to be erected on Bonham St., Dublin will
comprise of one hundred student living units which in total will contain four hundred and
ninety three bed spaces. This purpose built centre will serve colleges in the inner Dublin area,
mainly the National College of Art and Design, Trinity College Dublin and Dublin Institute of
Technology.
The construction of these units is being carried out by Threesixty Developments Ltd.
(formerly known as Knightsbridge Student Housing Ltd). Threesixty developments are based
in London, England and have a proven track record within the student accommodation area.
They have developed and run many student accommodation units not only in England and
Ireland but also in Scotland, Wales and are currently in the process of developing student
accommodation units in Spain.
The units will vary in size from three bed units to eight bed units with no single or double
occupancy units available. These units will have individual single bed rooms within each unit
containing of a single bed, a desk area, a small storage area and a private en-suite facility. The
units will be serviced by a communal kitchen, dining and living area built to suit the size of
each unit.
Although these units are based in the city centre and are within reasonable walking distance to
a number of colleges, I do think that they are excessively overpriced, with a basic room
starting at €206 per week compared to an average of €125 for current Dublin third level
students as can was found in the results of the survey I conducted. The €206 cost does cover
electricity, water, gas, contents insurance and rent. After researching and investigating the
space which will be available to each student it is clear from this research that as a current
student living near the proposed site and paying a fraction of the cost for a similar size room,
the cost of these units to the student does not justify the lack of personal space available to the
individual student in their bedroom.
37. 32
The total floor space area of a single bed unit including the private en-suite is 15.4m². The en-
suite bathroom takes up 3m². This leaves 12m² of actual bedroom space. The rest of this space
is occupied by a wardrobe storage unit, a desk and a bed with the remaining space unused
floor space. This floor space is mostly wasted/taken up by space needed to open and close the
door entering the bedroom and the door entering the en-suite, this is another unnecessary
waste of space of the apartment that could easily have been solved by installing a sliding door
entering the en-suite instead of having a swinging door which opens into the bedroom.
The following figures show a computer generated image of what the proposed layout of firstly
the apartment common area and the two following images show what the bedrooms within the
Binary Hub student accommodation will look like. The images shown depict the deluxe single
bed unit.
Figure 39 - http://thestudenthousingcompany.ie/locations/dublin/binary-hub
38. 33
Figure 40 - http://thestudenthousingcompany.ie/locations/dublin/binary-hub
Figure 41 - http://thestudenthousingcompany.ie/locations/dublin/binary-hub
The first figure shown below is the actual four bedroom apartment layout submitted for
planning permission to the Dublin City Council planning committee. The second figure shows
an AutoCAD representation of one of the bigger fully accessible bedroom units with its en-
suite, wardrobe, desk and bed all in situ. The proposed standard single study bedroom size
will be an average of 12.7m² (KSH Europe Holdings, 2013).
39. 34
Figure 42 - http://www.dublincity.ie/AnitePublicDocs/00415495.pdf
Figure 43 - AutoCAD rendering of bedroom layout
As is easily identifiable from the AutoCAD drawing the room does contain the essentials for
student accommodation but is extremely limited on its use of space which is available. The
storage unit is quite small for an adult occupant with regards to the amount clothes a student
would possess especially considering the available floor space currently unused. The desk
space whilst quite large is non beneficial to the student as most student work is carried out on
laptops or net books with very little actual written assignments or work needed. Taking into
consideration the fact that some college courses do require some written work or hand
sketching to be carried out the floor space the desk occupies is still to large in proportion to
the area of use needed by today’s modern students.
40. 35
Figure 44 - AutoCAD rendering of bedroom layout
The above figure shows the actual bedroom space with the en-suite bathroom removed. It is
even more evident from this image of the space taken up by the bed and desk. Of the bedroom
floor space the bed and desk require almost one third of the entire area. With regards to the
research area which this thesis is investigating it is these two items/ areas of loss of floor
space which would be more easily remedied than the opening and positioning of the
doorways.
Although these accommodation units do provide a shared common area for the occupants of
each unit it would be beneficial to each student if a more practical personal space was allowed
for within each bedroom. This is especially prevalent where one looks at the eight bedroom
units concerning personal space and the ability to accommodate more than one person in the
bedroom at once as the common area for eight occupants would fill up very quickly. Although
most of the time the common area provided in each unit would suffice for most of the
occupants there will be certain times when some occupants will have visitors or friends over
which will reduce the floor space available to each person. It is for this reason that extra
allowance should be made to provide extra personal space in the private bedroom of each
occupant.
As a student who has lived in many different types of accommodation, it is apparent from
previous personal experience that the two things most lacking from all student
accommodation is storage and space. Although this student accommodation design in the
‘Binary Hub’ does provide each student with their own desk space and wardrobe it is lacking
in adequate storage. There are a number of ways in which this problem could be alleviated.
41. 36
Figure 45 - AutoCAD rendering of bedroom with fold down bed
As can automatically be seen from the above AutoCAD rendered image installing a fold down
wall bed which has an integrated work space desk drastically reduces the amount of wasted
and unused space in the bedroom. If this type of bed was to be installed in each room it would
create an added three square metres of space for each person. This would create a huge
improvement in the personal space and quality of the accommodation available to the student.
This extra space could be utilised by installing extra storage in the form of shelves or
wardrobes which are currently lacking in the room. As storage is a major problem in current
student accommodation this could quite easily be alleviated by installing some simple storage
solutions.
It could also be used as a chill out space for the student by placing a small couch or beanbags
in each room which would allow the student to entertain friends in a more private setting
rather than in the apartments common area which as mentioned previously would become
overcrowded and busy in a short space of time if all occupants were in the apartment.
This extra personal space is something that is sorely needed in student accommodation as
private space and the need to converse privately with friends and colleagues is something that
all people need in their lives especially students as they are continually under pressure and
stress during their time at third level education.
Another solution to the storage problems of student accommodation would be the use of a bed
with storage underneath the bed frame. As mentioned previously there are many versions of
this type of bed available from standard height beds to beds with raised bases giving added
42. 37
storage depth underneath. Although these beds do have the same footprint as a normal bed
they do have the added advantage of utilising the entire under bed space as storage for the
student. This will allow the student to more capably manage their personal possessions and in
turn create a neater and nicer personal space within their bedroom in which they can then
relax or work on college projects without the stress of added clutter around the room.
43. 38
Survey and Survey Results Analysis
To gain a better understanding of student’s needs and requirements in regards accommodation
a ten question survey was carried out. The full multiple choice survey can be seen at the end
of this thesis in the appendices section.
The information gathered from this survey is of huge significance in terms of this thesis’s
overall research and conclusion. The survey was designed to be easily answered but also give
a clear understanding to the need of students, it was distributed to a wide range of students in
order to get the most unbiased and accurate results from a full range of Irish students. The
students surveyed are all current third level students based in Dublin and range from eighteen
years of age to thirty five. The analysis of the survey is carried out question by question in
this chapter and uses graphs created from the answers submitted by the students involved in
the survey to easily identify the results.
Question 1
As can be seen from the graph below the ninety percent of the students surveyed are in private
rented accommodation whether house sharing or private family digs, ten percent are living in
studio flat accommodation and with zero percent in actual college accommodation. This result
shows the obvious need for colleges and companies to invest and create accommodation
which is primarily aimed at and caters for students. As previously stated in this thesis college
based accommodation will benefit not only the student but also the college providing the
accommodation.
Figure 46–Question 1 Independent survey results
44. 39
Question 2
Figure 47– Question 2 Independent survey results
As can be seen from the previous graph the demographic age of the students surveyed are in
line with recent research carried out by Irish Universities Association which shows that 8% of
college applicants for 2014/2015 in Ireland were mature students ( Higher Education
Authority (HEA), 2015). The majority of the students surveyed fall between the age group of
seventeen to twenty five years of age. From researching the new student accommodation
currently being built in Dublin city this is the age group that the accommodation is being
aimed towards.
45. 40
Question 3
The following graph shows that the majority of students have their own private room with a
smaller amount notably twenty seven percent of the student’s surveyed share a bedroom with
one other person. From further analysis of the replies to the survey it was discovered that
these students who share bedrooms were aged 17-20 years of age. As has been previously
mentioned in this thesis students of who fall into this age group of 17-20 years and share
bedroom space with one other would benefit from the bedroom being fitted out with a wall
bed which contains two single beds which would free up extra floor space for essential
student items such as desks for both students sharing the room. As for the seventy three
percent of students who have a single occupancy bedroom a folding bed with an integrated
desk or storage space beneath the bed would be of huge advantage to their personal bedroom
space.
Figure 48 - Question 3 Independent survey results
46. 41
Question 4
Figure 49 below shows the results from question four of the survey which asked if students
have adequate storage space in the bedrooms? Fifty five percent of students stated that they
sufficient storage space, this leads on to the previous proposal in this thesis that a folding bed
with integrated desk would be a good choice for student accommodation and would give
students extra work space which would be of obvious benefit to them. The forty five percent
who feel they do not have enough storage space would hence benefit from the bed
configuration which has integrated storage placed beneath the frame.
Figure 49 - Question 4 Independent survey results
47. 42
Question 5
Figure 50 - Question 5 Independent survey results
The previous figure shows the results from question five, do the students have a work desk in
their room? These results show a very high percentage of students who obviously do not have
the facilities they require in their bedroom. As a current college student I can concur with
these results and the frustration students feel when trying to complete their college work
without the aid of necessary study space. Due to the fact that sixty four percent of the students
surveyed responded that they do not have a work space this seriously impedes their ability to
the work required. This thesis has shown many different options which would alleviate this
problem.
48. 43
Question 6
Figure 51 - Question 6 Independent survey results
The results seen in the previous graph show that the amount of students who feel they have
adequate floor space in their bedroom is forty five percent, this does not seem like a major
issue in the students surveyed current accommodation status. The inadequacy of floor space is
more prevalent in the plans of the new student accommodation which is being built in Dublin
City, these plans have previously analysed earlier in this thesis. Due to the fact that the new
student accommodation currently under construction is being built on a previously empty site
with relative freedom in regards to design the layout and floor space in the bedrooms provided
to each student is thoroughly unsatisfactory. This is yet another instance where adaptable
furniture or folding wall beds would alleviate this problem and allow the student more space
and freedom within their personal bedroom area.
49. 44
Question 7
Figure 52 - Question 7 Independent survey results
The results from question seven shows that one hundred percent of students surveyed would
be in favour of some form of multi functional furniture to be used in their bedroom. The result
of this question shows the definite demand required for adaptable furniture to be utilised in
student accommodation to create more effective and personal spaces in which students can
not only relax and feel comfortable but also a space in which they can complete their college
work when needed.
50. 45
Questions 8 & 9
Figure 53 - Question 8 Independent survey results
Figure 54 - Question 9 Independent survey results
Assessment of the previous two figures show the amount of rent paid by the surveyed
students and the overall rating they gave their current accommodation. From figure 53 it can
be easily seen that the majority of students pay rent of between €50 and €100 per week with
only a slight amount “twenty eight percent” paying between €100 and €150 per week. With
the minority of students paying €150 to €200 per week this is still lower than the minimum
room price of €206 being proposed for the new Dublin city student accommodation. This
minority section of students fall into the mature students category that rent studio apartments
and are looking for single person accommodation space. Figure 54 shows that all students
surveyed feel that their accommodation is either reasonable or very reasonable for the price
they pay with zero percent regarding their accommodation as overpriced. From the new
student accommodation being built which has been assessed previously in this thesis, it is
easy to see that the percentage of students who would find this new accommodation
overpriced would be much higher than it is in this survey result, not only from the high cost of
the accommodation but also from the lack of floor space available in the individual student
bedrooms.
51. 46
Question 10
Figure 55 - Question 10 Independent survey results
The final question in the survey shows the most important aspects of accommodation as
chosen by the students. These results are the most significant of all the survey as they show
that the major areas of accommodation that students wish for are desk space, floor space and
private recreational space, all of these areas can be significantly improved be installing multi
functional furniture such as the fold down beds and beds with integrated storage as previously
outlined within the thesis. For the mature students who have selected that their most important
aspects are recreational space it is items such as the Orla Reynolds table and chairs which are
housed within storage shelves would be of a huge benefit as it frees up floor space when not
in use and adds an extra dimension to their storage facilities.
It is quite interesting to analyse these results and to conclude from them that some simple
adaptable furniture as has already been proposed throughout this thesis will amend the
majority of problems students have within their bedroom space, whether this is through fold
down beds with integrated desks which would supply the students with desk space and floor
space or sofa beds which would provide both floor space and extra space for recreation.
52. 47
Conclusion
This thesis was undertaken to understand the needs and requirements of students in rented
accommodation in relation to the facilities available to them in their private bedroom space
and to what extent different types of multifunctional furniture could alleviate these problems.
As has been stated and well covered statistics show Ireland has a smaller percentage of its
population living in apartments than its European counterparts but that number is significantly
on the rise. The major driving force behind this change of living style is the amount of young
people attending college in large cities where accommodation is limited. One major finding of
this thesis was the different approaches taken by both Amsterdam University and the city of
Vancouver in regards to providing their students with suitable accommodation. The result of
the analysis of the new Dublin student accommodation currently being built shows a real lack
of understanding from the designers and developers as to what students want in their
accommodation facilities. As was stated previously in this thesis with the cost of rent of the
new student accommodation in Dublin city (€206 per week minimum) more allowances in
regards the layout and furniture being installed in the private bedrooms should be better
thought out.
In relation to the Boxetti kitchen range and the Orla Reynolds ‘As if from nowhere…’ range
they have been shown to be very useful in regards space saving in studio apartments or small
apartments for mature students but not particularly suited for student accommodation. From
my findings I would propose installing wall beds with integrated desks in the bedrooms as
this would provide the desk space, floor space and extra space for storage as was stated by the
majority of students surveyed. Although these beds are more expensive than standard beds
they would provide the student accommodation with a unique selling point but also provide a
more private personal space for the student occupants. Where these fold down wall beds may
not be suitable to install the alternative bed with built in storage, as previously mentioned,
underneath the bed frame would be appropriate.
An avenue for further research I would like to continue on would be the implementation of
these suggestions and findings within a student accommodation facility. This would be
continued with further surveys into the approval of student occupants and how they feel that
the multifunctional furniture helps with the limited space they have in their bedroom.
53. 48
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56. 51
Appendix
Student Survey Questionnaire
1. As a full time Student which of these best describes your current accommodation?
Official College accommodation
Private rented house share/apartment share
Digs (private room in a family home)
Studio flat
2. What age group do you belong to?
17-20
21-25
26-30
31+
3. Is your bedroom?
Single person occupancy
Two person occupied
Multiple person occupied
4. Do you have adequate storage space in your bedroom?
Yes
No
5. Do you have a work space/desk in your room?
Yes
No
57. 52
6. Do you have floor space or personal space in your room to have friends over to watch
movies, chill out etc.?
Yes
No
7. Would multi-functional furniture be useful to your living arrangements, e.g. fold down
bed with built in desk, bed with integrated storage underneath?
Yes
No
8. How much does your accommodation cost per week?
€50-€100
€101-€150
€151-€200
€201 +
9. How would you rate your accommodation regards value for money?
Over priced
Reasonable
Very good
10. What is the most important aspect of accommodation to you?
Desk/Work space
Storage space
Bedroom floor space
Private recreational space
