UC Santa Barbara's proposed "dormzilla"

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the proposed construction of a large dormitory at UC Santa Barbara, designed to house 4500 students with minimal windows, funded by billionaire Charlie Munger. Participants express various opinions on the implications of such a design, including social, architectural, and aesthetic considerations.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express concern about the high population density and lack of windows, suggesting it could lead to negative living conditions.
  • Others mention that only a small percentage of rooms will have windows, raising questions about the desirability of living in such an environment.
  • There are comments about the potential social implications of such a design, likening it to a social experiment or even a prison-like environment.
  • Some participants humorously suggest that the design might be suitable for submariners or other unconventional living situations.
  • Concerns are raised about the long-term viability of the dormitory, with predictions that it may not last a decade.
  • Comparisons are made to other architectural concepts, such as the "Earth'scraper" in Mexico City, highlighting potential design challenges.
  • One participant shares a link to an article for further context on the dormitory proposal.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express disagreement regarding the merits and implications of the proposed dormitory design, with no consensus reached on its potential benefits or drawbacks.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference specific architectural and social challenges related to high-density living, but these points remain unresolved and speculative.

jtbell
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4500 is a lot of people for a dorm!

no windows makes it even worse
 
Just some random thoughts.

We have experiences of this kind of population density (an we know where it tends to converge) so as a social experiment, it's just moot.

A fire alarm there would be a nightmare.

Since it's a dorm, the expected amortization is high.
Within ten years it'll look so that you would want to burn it down.
 
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jtbell said:
almost no windows
I've seem images of windows on the peripheral rooms, so ostensibly, those willing to pay more will get windows. Personally, I'd find a different environment.
 
Astronuc said:
I've seem images of windows on the peripheral rooms, so ostensibly, those willing to pay more will get windows.
One of the linked articles says 94% of the residents will be windowless, so 6% = 270 will get windows. That would be equvalent to a large dorm at the small college where I went to school, and at the two where I've taught. Of course, Big State U's are a different world.
 
Ick. Why would anyone choose such a monstrosity? If built, my bet is that it will be torn down in ten years.
 
I think it's great for housing prospective submariners. Needs fewer windows and more bunks, though.
 
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Bandersnatch said:
I think it's great for housing prospective submariners. Needs fewer windows and more bunks, though.
I was thinking prospective cube-workers. Or generational starship passengers.
 
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Given how pretty Santa Barbara is, a windowless dorm room would be a crime!
 
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  • #10
Maybe they're testing out designs for the next generation of prisons.
 
  • #11
Ygggdrasil said:
Given how pretty Santa Barbara is, a windowless dorm room would be a crime!
But the weather is sooo great in California, surely everyone wants to be outdoors anyway. Except to sleep... but I hear a lot of people do sleep outdoors... :wink:
 
  • #12
jtbell said:
but I hear a lot of people do sleep outdoors... :wink:

That's more an issue of housing prices than weather.
 
  • #14
Just preparing students for the available future housing in California.o_O

Definition of troglodyte

1: a member of any of various peoples (as in antiquity) who lived or were reputed to live chiefly in caves

2: a person characterized by reclusive habits or outmoded or reactionary attitudes

(from: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troglodyte)
 
  • #15
No doubt a callous design. In some ways it reminds me of the idea for an "Earth'scraper" in Mexico City, where available plots of land are in short supply, which was floated a few years back.

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  • #16
ergospherical said:
In some ways it reminds me of the idea for an "Earth'scraper" in Mexico City
Looks to me like an underground building (picture lacks legibility).

I see problems for this design:
Building underground is expensive.
I would bet there is a high water table in Mexico city (parts of it used to be a lake). Deeper parts would have to withstand a lot of water pressure.
Burials in some areas around New Orleans are above ground in cement coffins because a buried wood coffin can pop up out of saturated ground after being buried.
 
  • #18
I have not lived in Santa Barbara since 1968 but would prefer life in Isla Vista over a campus dormitory.