Towards Holistic Well-Being: Designing Interactive Spaces for Students in Vertical University Environment

Purva Chitlange

Abstract: With the emergence of new learning and employment opportunities in urban areas, cities are experiencing rapid densification which has resulted in land scarcity and congestion, compelling governments and construction industries to adopt vertical growth strategies. The transition from expansive, land-intensive campuses to compact, self-sufficient vertical universities has become a pressing necessity. A vertical university is envisioned as a high-rise structure that integrates all essential academic and non-academic functions like classrooms, laboratories, libraries, student housing, recreation, and administration within a consolidated vertical form. However, building upwards should not come at the expense of social interaction and mediated spaces as they significantly contribute to character development, peer bonding, and informal learning practices. Against this backdrop, this research aims to benefit students aged between 16-23 years by proposing a design framework for interaction zones in vertical universities by analyzing the spatial configuration of social spaces through the space syntax method, with the goal of embedding these zones seamlessly into students? daily routines .The study classifies the social spaces according to the nature of space, function & activity. It investigates the design elements, spatial arrangements, and interactive features that stimulate and enrich the learning experiences. The research fetches results through primary survey of students as respondents and secondary literature reviews and case study. Overall, the study benefits students by creating environments that tend to foster community by integration of visibility and accessibility aspects.

Keywords: Vertical university, interaction zones, Spatial configuration, Students? wellbeing, informal learning, peer collaboration, Visibility

How to Cite?: Purva Chitlange, "Towards Holistic Well-Being: Designing Interactive Spaces for Students in Vertical University Environment ", Volume 14 Issue 12, December 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1718-1726, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251220224655, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251220224655