Dormitory Association Singapore Limited (DASL) and Meet&Co
Year
2023
Designers
Alistair Norris, Clarissa Edeline Yu, Wong Eng Geng
Brief
In accordance with the aspirational spatial design guidelines from DASL Handbook 5, develop a furniture solution for migrant worker dormitories that balances worker wellbeing with the practical and economic needs of dormitory operators.
Project Description
Project Seahorse is a research & design project that focused on improving dormitory living conditions for migrant workers in Singapore. The project aims to design dormitory furniture that champions workers' welfare while staying financially feasible for dormitory operators.
Starting with dormitory beds, the solution proposes modular bed components & its accessories, designed to be mix-and-matchable with both existing and new bed frames.
The solution's main value proposition hinges on lowering maintenance cost for dormitory operators, while allowing flexible customisation based on each dormitory's needs.
While improving dormitory living standards is aspirational, it is often not practical nor economically viable for dormitories to do so.
While one can suggest what the ideal migrant worker dormitory should look like, the real challenge lies in getting dormitory operators to invest in such improvements.
For instance, while beds with features such as built-in reading lights, personal bedside trays, or privacy curtains clearly enhance workers' living experiences, implementing such upgrades across an entire dormitory leads to a significant increase in operational costs.
Dormitory operators often question whether new, feature-enhanced furniture was truly necessary. After all, why change beds that are 'working just fine'? For many operators, the cost of upgrading can outweigh the perceived benefits, particularly when budgets are tight and profitability is of key concern.
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Many operators are open to small changes, but only if they come with minimal cost and disruption.
When asked what they would want in return for a slightly more expensive bed, most dormitory operators still prioritised cost above all else, and understandably so. However, operators see value in furniture that lowers maintenance cost in the long run.
For example, several operators shared that it’s not uncommon to discard an entire bed just because one part, like a bent frame, was damaged. In situations like these, repairs can become disproportionately costly. A slightly more expensive bed was seen as acceptable if it offered better durability, easier part replacement, and reduced long-term maintenance costs.
Another key insight was that all-in-one beds often don’t meet the specific needs of each dormitory. Replacing all beds at once is a big commitment, especially when many are still in good condition. A more flexible solution is to allow operators to purchase only the parts they need now, and scale up when ready.
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The solution—modular furniture that fits the budget and the space.
Meeting all stakeholders in the middle, the final design features a bed frame that supports modular accessories such as lights, fans, towel racks, bedside trays, partitions, and curtains—everything needed for a comfortable dormitory living. Sold in individual parts, the system offers a flexible and cost-effective option for operators planning new purchases or phased upgrades.
Recognising that purchasing decisions are made at both management and individual levels, the design targets not only dormitory operators but also employers and migrant workers. By keeping accessory prices reasonable, the solution appeals to residents who often take personal steps to improve their spaces, making comfort more attainable without requiring large-scale changes.
By providing scalable, business-aligned solutions, we hope to pave the way for dormitories that support residents’ well-being without compromising business viability.
