Abstract:
At present, ther are 178,988 square meters of teaching and studying space at Chulalongkorn University. This space is used by every major and program. A lot of programs need studio classrooms to suit the study of arts and design. The study aims to investigate the physical attributes and utilization of studio classrooms in five faculties, namely the Faculties of Architecture, Fine and Applied Arts, Education, Arts, and Communication Arts. The researcher studied the physical attributes, the structures of the classrooms, special equipment and durable goods, space, utilization, activities, behavior, and hours of use. The methodology included interviews, and document collection. The data were analyzed to find characteristics, designs, and the relationship between physical attributes and utilization to improve overall physical resources in the future. The study found that the studio classrooms were divided into five types: 18 drawing studio classrooms, 15 industrial studio classrooms, 10 art studio classrooms, 22 musical and performance art studio classrooms, and 34 photography and multimedia studio classrooms. There are 99 studio classrooms in total. The findings are as follows (1) The drawing studio classrooms are open, big, spacious, illuminated, air-conditioned, and ventilated. The drawing tables are aligned for working individually and in groups. The classrooms are mostly occupied in the afternoon. The users are first-year and second-year students (2) The industrial studio workshop classrooms are closed. The sizes range from medium to large. The space is divided into wet and dry zones like those of factories. The classrooms are ventilated. There is a water supply system, and fans. The classrooms are illuminated. The activities in the classrooms are those which depend on industrial machines. The machines are scattered and are not set up in an organized formation. The classrooms are occupied all the time. They are in high demand in the afternoon and there are always supervisors who take care of the classrooms. (3) The art studio classrooms are open, medium-sized, spacious, and use outdoor light. The space is divided into wet zones and dry zones. They are ventilated, have water supply system, have fans, and are illuminated. The classroom materials including those for drawing and those for sculptures are set up according to activities. The classrooms are occupied all the time. They are in high demand in the afternoon. Sometimes the classrooms are open 24-7. (4) The musical and performance art studio classrooms are open, medium-sized, and spacious. They control natural light by using curtains. Noise is controlled. The classrooms are ventilated, air-conditioned, and illuminated. There are musical instruments and performance props. The classrooms are occupied all the time according to the schedules. (5) The photography and multimedia studio workshop classrooms are closed. The sizes range from small to medium. They are closed and dimly lit. The designs are modern. Noise and temperature are controlled. The classrooms are ventilated, air-conditioned, and illuminated. There is also a security system. Electronic devices and computers are aligned on durable tables. The classrooms are mostly used in the morning and under supervision. In conclusion, the studio workshop classrooms have physical attributes which support and serve the learning objectives of each program. The study of the five types of studio classrooms give a clear understanding of how the studio classrooms are utilized, how the space is divided, and when they are in high demand. Therefore, the management of studio classrooms needs to consider utilization which is based on teaching and learning activities. The classrooms should be well taken care of to be ready to be used at all times. Moreover, security measures should be set up for the users and property. All in all, the management would bring out the best utilization of the studio classrooms