K-Pop Dream Dorm Design: Architecture and Budgeting for STS SCHOOL TEAM GIRLS

Materials Needed

• Graph paper (essential for scale drawing)
• Ruler or Straight Edge
• Pencils, colored pens, or markers
• Calculator (physical or digital spreadsheet software)
• Access to examples of professional floor plans (digital printouts or online search)
• Optional: Digital design software (e.g., floorplanner.com, simplified CAD tool)

Learning Objectives (The Goal)

By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:

1. Define and apply the concept of scale in architectural drawing.
2. Design a functional floor plan that meets specified organizational and spatial needs (zoning).
3. Calculate and manage a budget for a complex design project.
4. Justify design choices through a clear, professional presentation.

Success Criteria

You will know you are successful when:

• Your final floor plan is clearly drawn to scale and labeled.
• All required rooms for the STS SCHOOL TEAM GIRLS are included (bedrooms, practice space, kitchen).
• Your total calculated cost remains under the fictional maximum budget.
• You can explain why your layout is efficient and beneficial for the group.

Lesson Introduction: The Commission

Hook (10 minutes)

Scenario: Congratulations! The STS SCHOOL TEAM GIRLS have just had their first major international hit, and their agency has hired you—the expert Chief Design Architect—to plan their brand new, luxury dorm residence. The building needs to be functional, stylish, and perfect for their demanding training schedule.

Discussion Prompt: If you were a K-Pop idol, what is the single most important room or feature your dorm absolutely must have? Why?

Context Setting

We are not just decorating; we are creating a functional blueprint. To do this, we must think like architects and accountants. We need to use scale to manage space and budgeting to manage money.

Lesson Body: Design and Planning

Phase 1: I Do (Modeling Concepts) (15 minutes)

Concept 1: Scale and Floor Plans

• Definition: A floor plan is a view of the space looking down from above. Scale is the ratio that compares the size of the drawing to the actual size of the space.
• Modeling: We will use a scale of 1 square on the graph paper = 2 square feet (2' x 2').
• *(Educator/Trainer models drawing a standard bedroom (e.g., 10 feet by 12 feet) on the graph paper using the established scale. Explain how 10 feet wide translates to 5 squares and 12 feet long translates to 6 squares.)*

Concept 2: Setting the Budget

• The Challenge: The agency has given us a strict maximum budget of $500,000 USD for the layout and initial renovation of the key spaces.
• *(Educator/Trainer introduces the fictional Cost Sheet on a whiteboard or screen.)*

STS SCHOOL TEAM GIRLS Fictional Cost Sheet (Base Costs)

Phase 2: We Do (Guided Zoning and Calculation) (20 minutes)

Task: Determine the Group’s Needs. Let’s assume STS SCHOOL TEAM GIRLS has 4 members.

1. Mandatory Rooms (Must-Haves): Using the budget, let's calculate the cost of the absolute mandatory spaces.
   • 4 Bedrooms ($30,000 x 4 = $120,000)
   • Kitchen/Dining Area ($75,000)
   • Practice Studio ($125,000)
   • Lounge Area ($45,000)
   • Utility Room ($15,000)
2. Calculation Check: Add up the mandatory costs. ($120k + $75k + $125k + $45k + $15k = $380,000).
3. Remaining Budget: $500,000 - $380,000 = $120,000 remaining for optional rooms, extra bathrooms, luxury upgrades, or just savings.
4. Guided Design Start: On the graph paper, jointly sketch the required four bedrooms (4 rooms, each 5x6 squares). Discuss how to position them for optimal privacy or community.

Phase 3: You Do (Independent Application) (45 minutes)

Task 1: The Blueprint

The learner will now independently design the complete floor plan, incorporating the remaining budget.

1. Decide on Optional Spaces: Based on the remaining $120,000, decide if you want to include the Recording Booth ($50k), a dedicated game room, or perhaps upgrade two bedrooms to suites (+$15,000 each).
2. Draw to Scale: Draw the entire floor plan on the graph paper. Ensure all rooms are drawn to the 1 square = 2 square feet scale.
3. Labeling: Label every room clearly and draw in major furniture/fixtures (beds, mirrors, kitchen counter).

Task 2: Final Cost Calculation

Create a final list of all chosen rooms and their costs. Calculate the total expenditure to ensure it is below the $500,000 limit.

Lesson Conclusion: The Pitch and Assessment

Formative Assessment (Ongoing Check-Ins)

During the ‘You Do’ phase, the educator/trainer checks:

• Are measurements accurate according to the scale?
• Is the required practice studio large enough?
• Are the financial calculations on track?

Summative Assessment: The Design Pitch (15 minutes)

The learner takes on the role of the Chief Design Architect and presents their final plan to the "Agency Executives" (Educator/Trainer).

1. Display the Blueprint: Show the final floor plan.
2. Justification: Explain the flow and zoning. ("I placed the practice room far from the bedrooms to allow for late-night training without disturbing others.")
3. Budget Review: State the final cost and confirm that it is within the $500,000 budget. Justify any optional rooms added (e.g., "The recording booth was essential because it allows the girls to produce demos without leaving the house, saving future transportation costs.")

Recap and Reflection

Review the key takeaways:

• What does scale help us do? (Accurately represent space.)
• How did the fixed budget influence your creative decisions?
• What is one thing you learned about space planning that you didn't know before?

Differentiation and Adaptability

Scaffolding (For learners needing support)

• Pre-Set Dimensions: Provide the exact dimensions (in feet) for all mandatory rooms, allowing the learner to focus primarily on placement and scale drawing rather than creative dimension setting.
• Simplified Scale: Change the scale to 1 square = 1 square foot for easier counting.
• Digital Templates: Allow the use of simple drag-and-drop floor planning software (if available) instead of physical graph paper, which handles the scaling automatically.

Extension (For learners ready for a challenge)

• Multi-Floor Planning: Challenge the learner to design a two-story dorm. Require specific zoning (e.g., all training on the ground floor, all private spaces on the second floor).
• Utility Costs: Introduce a variable: Add an extra 15% of the total calculated cost for renovation contingency and mandatory utility hookups. The new total must still be under $500,000, forcing tighter budgeting decisions.
• Interior Design Focus: Require the learner to choose a specific design aesthetic (e.g., modern industrial, minimalist white, colorful retro) and justify how the layout and fixture placement reflect the STS SCHOOL TEAM GIRLS' public image.