STUDENT RESIDENCE IN PARIS

Abstract

The thesis is a reaction to the existing student housing environment in Paris, which recognised the need for more affordable housing but did not address the need for a more conducive environment for foreign students can learn, through daily living, from one another as well as their native counterparts. The thesis is to explore how a new direction can be taken to improve the students' living environment which in turn to allow the students to a better learning environment. The vehicle chosen is a student residence for tertiary students, French and foreign, with the admittance to any of the universities or schools of higher education in Paris. From studies of existing student hostels and residence in Paris as well as their counterparts in other countries, an analysis is made to identify the common needs and requirement of students in general and specifically in France, Paris. The thesis highlights that the learning environment for students should not be limited to their institution and for the foreign students, the opportunity to learn and take part in their foster country's culture is an important learning experience as well. As such, the proposed site for the student residence next to the Pare de la Villette in District 19 is chosen for its rich cultural environment, close proximity with the locals and the opportunity for the students to be near to an open park for sportive and recreational activities. In the process of creating a conducive living and learning environment for the students, the thesis also focuses its investigation on these issues: -The adaptive-reuse of existing old buildings, -Intensification of existing plots and -Redefining the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces and the interconnectivity of spaces, both visually and physically.