cormac thesis

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

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

Table of Figures

Figure 1 - http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics ........................................................................ 3

Figure 2 - Housing Statistics in the European Union 2010 pg 30 ............................................. 6

Figure 3 - housing statistic in eu pdf pg 68 ............................................................................... 6

Figure 4 - http://vancouver.housing.ubc.ca/rooms/nano ........................................................... 7

Figure 5 - http://vancouver.housing.ubc.ca/rooms/nano ........................................................... 8

Figure 6 - Aerial view https://www.pdx.edu/sites ..................................................................... 9

Figure 7 - Exterior view https://www.pdx.edu/sites ............................................................... 10

Figure 8 - Interior view https://www.pdx.edu/sites ................................................................. 10

Figure 9 - Layout https://www.pdx.edu/sites .......................................................................... 11

Figure 10 - http://www.hea.ie/sites/default/files ..................................................................... 12

Figure 11 - Wall table Bunratty Castle .................................................................................... 13

Figure 12 - https://www.onekingslane.com/info/home/the-bureau-desk/index.html .............. 14

Figure 13 - https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/storage-case-pieces ....................................... 15

Figure 14 - http://design-milk.com/boxetti-multifunctional-furniture/ ................................... 16

Figure 15 - http://design-milk.com/boxetti-multifunctional-furniture/ ................................... 17

Figure 16 - http://design-milk.com/boxetti-multifunctional-furniture .................................... 17

Figure 19 - http://www.orlareynolds.com/features.asp ........................................................... 19

Figure 24 - http://resourcefurniture.com/our-favorite-projects/carmel-place ......................... 22

Figure 25 - http://resourcefurniture.com/our-favorite-projects/carmel-place ......................... 22

Figure 26 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/lollisoft-sd/................................................. 23

Figure 27 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/lollisoft-sd/................................................. 23

Figure 28 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/lollisoft-sd .................................................. 23

Figure 29 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/telemaco-work/ .......................................... 24

Figure 30 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/telemaco-work ........................................... 24

Figure 31 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/telemaco-work/ .......................................... 25

Figure 32 - http://resourcefurniture.com/product/kali-sofa ..................................................... 26

Figure 35 - http://www.lafurniturestore.com/palermo-platform-bed-with-storage.html ......... 28

Figure 36 - http://www.lafurniturestore.com/palermo-platform-bed-with-storage.html ......... 28

Figure 37 - http://88designbox.com/interior-design/space-up-double-bed-145.html.............. 29

Figure 38 - http://88designbox.com/interior-design/space-up-double-bed-145.html.............. 30

Figure 39 - http://thestudenthousingcompany.ie/locations/dublin/binary-hub ........................ 32

Figure 42 - http://www.dublincity.ie/AnitePublicDocs/00415495.pdf ................................... 34

Figure 43 - AutoCAD rendering of bedroom layout ............................................................... 34

Figure 44 - AutoCAD rendering of bedroom layout ............................................................... 35

Figure 45 - AutoCAD rendering of bedroom with fold down bed .......................................... 36

Figure 46–Question 1 Independent survey results .................................................................. 38

Figure 47– Question 2 Independent survey results ................................................................. 39

Figure 48 - Question 3 Independent survey results ................................................................. 40

Figure 55 - Question 10 Independent survey results ............................................................... 46

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.

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

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

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

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).

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

Figure 7 - Exterior view https://www.pdx.edu/sites

Figure 8 - Interior view https://www.pdx.edu/sites

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.

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.

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

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.

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’,

(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/

Figure 15 - http://design-milk.com/boxetti-multifunctional-furniture/

Figure 16 - 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.

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

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).

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

Figure 38 - http://88designbox.com/interior-design/space-up-double-bed-145.html

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.

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

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).

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Question 5

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.

Question 6

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.

Question 7

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.

Questions 8 & 9

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.

Question 10

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.

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.

Works Cited

Higher Education Authority (HEA). (2015). SECTORAL UNIVERSITY STATISTICS 2014/15.

Retrieved 04 18, 2016, from Irish Universities Association: http://www.iua.ie/the-irish-

universities/university-fast-facts/

Baumann, W. (2014). Urban Nomads. Hirmer Publishers.

BOXETTI. (2016). BOXETTI_LUNCH. Retrieved 02 27, 2016, from BOXETTI:

http://www.boxetticoncept.com/en/#home

Caroline Uittenbroek, G. S. (2009). Sustainable Containers: Cost-Effective Student Housing.

Quarterly & Urban Development Journal , 53-60.

Central Statistics Office. (2012). 'Profile 4 - The roof over our heads. Dublin, Ireland:

Stationery Office.

Deal, W. E. (2005). Furniture and Other Interior Objects. In W. E. Deal, Handbook to Life in

Medieval and Early Modern Japan (p. 343). New York: Infobase Publishing.

Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. (2015). Sustainable

Urban Housing:Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities.

Ireland: Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Donnelly, K. (2015, 09 29). 25,000-bed shortage and 'questionable' standards in student

housing crisis. Retrieved 02 24, 2016, from independent.ie: http://www.independent.ie/irish-

news/education/25000bed-shortage-and-questionable-standards-in-student-housing-crisis-

31496274.html

eurostat. (2015, 11 20). Distribution of population by dwelling type. Retrieved 02 16, 2016,

from eurostat: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-

explained/index.php/File:Distribution_of_population_by_dwelling_type,_2014_(%25_of_pop

ulation)_YB16.png

eurostat. (2015, 11 30). Housing statistics. Retrieved 02 16, 2016, from eurostat:

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Housing_statistics

Flegg, E. (2014, 03 14). Interiors: Igor and the IKEA magical kitchen elves. Retrieved 02 27,

2016, from independent.ie: http://www.independent.ie/life/home-garden/interiors/interiors-

igor-and-the-ikea-magical-kitchen-elves-30090640.html

Forrest, A. (2015, 10 09). Living in a steel box: are shipping containers really the future of

housing? Retrieved 02 24, 2016, from the guardian:

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/oct/09/living-steel-box-shipping-containers-future-

housing

Gustafsson, K. (2015, 01 28). Ikea Gains Global Furniture Market Share on Price Cuts.

Retrieved 02 26, 2016, from Bloomberg Business:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-28/ikea-gains-global-furniture-market-

share-on-price-reductions

Higher Education Authority (HEA). (2015). REPORT ON STUDENT. Dublin: Higher

Education Authority (HEA).

Kaiser Family Foundation. (2016). Urban Population (Percent of Total Population Living in

Urban Areas). Retrieved 02 16, 2016, from Kaiser Family Foundation: http://kff.org/global-

indicator/urban-population/

Kaysen, R. (2015, 11 20). Leasing Begins for New York’s First Micro-Apartments. Retrieved

03 11, 2016, from New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/22/realestate/leasing-

begins-for-new-yorks-first-micro-apartments.html?_r=0

KSH Europe Holdings. (2013). Planning Support Statement. Dublin: John Spain Associates.

National Multifamily Housing Council. (2014). Resident Demographics. Retrieved 02 16,

2016, from National Multifamily Housing Council:

https://nmhc.org/Content.aspx?id=4708#Type_of_Structure

REYNOLDS, O. (2015). ORLA REYNOLDS STUDIO. Retrieved 02 27, 2016, from ORLA

REYNOLDS STUDIO: http://www.orlareynolds.com/shop.asp

Shore, Z. (2014). The case for micro-apartment housing in growing urban centers.

Massachusetts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Sima, L. (2015). A Study on Small Apartment Design in China: Evaluation on the

Impressions of and Preferences for the Floor Plans. JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE

AND BUILDING ENGINEERING , 307-314.

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European Union 2010.

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Townsend.

University of British Columbia. (2016). Nano Suite. Retrieved 02 24, 2016, from University

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Wallbeds of Ireland. (2015). A WALLBED/ STUDY COMBO. Retrieved 04 22, 2016, from

Wallbeds of Ireland: http://www.wallbeds.ie/wallbedDesks.html

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?

3. Is your bedroom?

Single person occupancy

Two person occupied

Multiple person occupied

4. Do you have adequate storage space in your bedroom?

5. Do you have a work space/desk in your room?

6. Do you have floor space or personal space in your room to have friends over to watch

movies, chill out etc.?

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?

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

cormac thesis

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