This thesis investigates the uneven global presence of hostels and examines why they flourish in various European and Southeast Asian cities while remaining limited in many parts of the United States. It explores how public transit, spatial organization, and cultural expectations of privacy shape the success of hostels. It also asks how hostels can positively influence local ecosystems by redirecting tourism spending toward independent businesses and creating youth-oriented social infrastructure. It seeks to understand how architecture can create private spaces that still encourage communal engagement, whether through bedroom layouts, common spaces, or the hostel's spatial planning. It also considers how social-spatial expectations differ across these regions and how the concept of shared space can remain consistent while adapting to different cultural and urban contexts around the world.

Through comparative site analysis of selected high-traffic urban centers in the United States (California, Massachusetts, Texas), Europe (Italy, Switzerland), and Asia (Japan, Thailand), the research evaluates how urban form, walkability, public transit access, proximity to restaurants and cultural attractions, youth-oriented activities, and mixed-use density influence the viability of hostel development. Alongside literature reviews, case studies, and personal reflection on my study abroad experiences. In doing so, I will cultivate a well-rounded idea of what enhances or deters people from staying in hostels.

By reframing the hostel as social and economic infrastructure rather than merely budget lodging, this project proposes architectural strategies that balance community interaction with personal comfort, positioning hostels as catalysts for neighborhood activation and culturally engaged urban life.