Using Repertory Grid Technique to Investigate the Impact of Changing University Hostel Function During COVID-19 Pandemic on Students' Well-Being

COVID-19 epidemic alerts us about the future of the architectural design of our built environment. During this pandemic, buildings have functioned unexpectedly for purposes and lengths of stay different from what they had been designed for initially. For example, the time spent at home during the pandemic is increased up to 60% relative to the period before the pandemic. Therefore, study the impact of building design on our health and well-being physically, mentally, and socially becomes more crucial. Some hostel buildings at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) have been changed from the standard function to quarantine buildings, hosting contacts of COVID-19 affected cases for a 14-Day quarantine. In this study, we hypothesize that changing hostel building function from standard to quarantine will impact its occupants' well-being. Maqam 4 building, of UAEU female hostels, is a case study of such quarantine buildings. Before the pandemic of COVID-19, the building was used as a hostel for female university students. During the pandemic, the building became a quarantine building for the students who contacted an affected case from the other university hostels. This study investigates the anticipated difference in students' well-being during the standard use of the building and quarantine purposes of the Maqam 4 hostel. Using Repertory Grid Technique (RGT), this study will assess the impact of building design on occupants' well-being. RGT is a structured interview in which interviewees' responses are placed in a mathematical grid form. The assessment will include different criteria such as air quality, lighting, and access to nature. Twenty interviews will be conducted with two groups of students: a group of ten students using the Maqam 4 during its standard function as a hostel before the COVID-19 pandemic. The other group consists of ten students who used the building during their quarantine. The results will articulate the kind of hostels that university students are willing to stay in during quarantine. This study is expected to draw attention to the future design guidelines of university students' hostels. It is also looking forward to envisioning a new building typology for university students.