Beyond "Living"

The thesis project Beyond “Living” is derived from a government proposal for Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector workers of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Bangladesh is regarded as the second largest RMG Industry in the world according to the BGMEA report. The contribution of workers towards this economic boom is indescribable and focus needs to be given to the living conditions of these workers to achieve better productivity in the workplace. We seldom investigate the mental health condition of the workers and how the living spaces are playing a significant role behind it. The small houses with high rent and insecurity of workers about their children make it difficult for them to concentrate on the production activities. 45% of the workers keep their children back home in the villages for lack of security in their housings and no scope for community supervision. Unhygienic living spaces, lack of communal supervision, and absence of family members demotivate the workers and do not create an attachment to the city life. This thesis project surveys meticulously on the living style of these workers and iterates to find out solutions for a better co-living approach for creating a sense of belongingness in an urban environment. 

The proposed design and background survey are done for both female and male workers of the garments sector in order to understand their living and social issues in the urban areas. The main target group of this thesis work was the lower income group of Garment sector workers who play a significant role in our national GDP every year. There have been several approaches by different authorities previously to build a shelter for the workers of this sector regarding their obstacles to finding a safe place to live in with their families while maintaining work-life. However, none of them worked properly for several reasons, such as target group, house rent, lack of community supervision, etc. This thesis did an intense survey before taking any decisions regarding the income group and their living spaces. The survey was conducted in several local areas near the selected site where the workers reside. Also, each and every decision has been taken through community participation and research on the income group. A communal and social space with better living places is designed for the workers and their family members while considering their income. Additionally, several amenities are provided for the housing complex with proper scope for income generation. Better housing in an urban context with proper community facilities, safe neighborhood, house rent considerations, and most importantly community supervision are considered accordingly for the low-income workers’ housing complex.

BEYOND “LIVING” visualize a reality for RMG lower-income working community and for their children, a life beyond just a house or a place of shelter. It motivates the housing to become their home that creates a sense of belongingness with income generative resources as well as provides the community with their rural living environment in an urban arena. A self-sustained social housing typology in a traditional architectural manner can be imagined for better living approaches for the lower-income RMG workers' community.