Abstract:
The dissertation employed a mixed-method research with the following three objectives: 1) to analyze context, problems, and needs, as well as the modern science concepts about the development of suitable (sappāya) places contributing to youth development; 2) to analyze the Buddhist peaceful means conducive to place development contributing to youth development; and 3) to develop and present the development of suitable (sappāya) places contributing to youth development by Buddhist peaceful means. The researcher collected data through interviewing 30 stakeholders and experts, performing focus group discussion with 16 experts, and conducting a questionnaire to 340 youths. The research tools used were in-depth interview, focus group discussion, and satisfaction survey toward a model of sappāya contributing to youth development with a Likert rating scale of 3 level. The quantitative data were analyzed by percentage and standard deviation, while the qualitative data were examined by inductive method
From the study, the following results are found:
1. The majority of schools currently use Buddhist teachings to teach morality and take students to Buddhist temples and meditation centers for courses on morality, but there are not many locations that can accommodate students or are prepared to offer services that are effectively conductive to youth development. Many temples must, in the meanwhile, enlarge their structures and grounds in order to serve as a center for the development of youths. One problem with place development is that project owners do not get to consult with architectural design specialists whose architectural design theories focus on organization, persons, behaviors, functional advantages, and existing circumstances.
2. The Buddhist peaceful means suited to place development that contributes to youth development is the development of building and places that are Sappāya, which will result in physical and metal comfort, happiness, concentration, and freedom to learn. Sappāya (seven suitable things) must be integrated with building design and landscape architecture, all of which must be aligned with external factors that support mental and intellectual development namely āvāsa-sappāya (suitable abode), gocara-sappāya (suitable resort), puggala-sappāya (suitable person), bhassa-sappāya (suitable speech), bhojana-sappāya (suitable food), utu-sappāya (suitable climate), and iriyāpatha-sappāya (suitable posture).
3. A model of suitable (sappāya) places contributing to youth development based on the Buddhist peaceful means consists of sappāya-based building, with the following details: (1) Setting clear demarcation, putting down master plan based on Dhamma Vinaya, laying down landscape to be clean, safe, and shady with useable space equal to building users and their ages, as well as being legal; (2) Resolving impacts arisen from the project location and manage traffic appropriately; (3) Having good audio-visual equipment, a public address system, and using architecture or sculpture as a tool to teach Dhamma; (4) Having places to accommodate people from various groups; (5) Having canteen so that food are quality and hygienic with good taste; (6) Considering an environment that promotes coolness; and (7) Having space that allow activities like as meditation, listening to the Dhamma, and self-study. From surveying the satisfaction of youth toward a model of suitable (sappāya) places contributing to youth development, it was found that youth are overall satisfied, in which physical space is at the highest (x̄ = 2.93, S.D. = 0.28), followed by intellectual space (x̄ = 2.84, S.D. = 0.39) and learning space (x̄ = 77, S.D. = 0.45), respectively.
A body of knowledge from the study is design model based on the concept of 7s plus 3 which includes an arrangement of space for physical development, learning enhancement, and intellectual space creation. All of which are designed using the sappāya framework.