THE MIGRATORY CONSTRUCT
Development is mostly urban centric. In the model of development currently implemented, infrastructural facilities become the most visible measure of development, along with economic growth and improved living standards. However, as we moved around the capital city, Delhi, exploring the various ongoing major construction projects, we came across the alarming living conditions of the very people involved in building these infrastructural facilities. Due to the dearth of resources and oppurtunities in the rural areas, the developing urban centres attract them to migrate to cities in search of work and making 'better lives'.
The parallel lives of the construction workers
The habitation provided to the migrant workers, working on some of Delhi' large construction projects.
A typical household from one community of workers migrating from Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh
The parallel lives of the construction workers
Condition of the bathing area and toilets
Washing space for the labourers
Condition of the bathing area and toilets
FACING THE URBAN REALITY
Migrating construction workers face myriad challenges in the cities, restricted access to needs such as social entitlements, financial services, and most importantly habitable living conditions.
Our aim has been to understand how urban processes marginalize the economically less fortunate. Engaging with the current living conditions of such migrant workers in an urban scenario, we tried identifying the issues they face. We talked to the people about the hopes and aspirations with which they move to the cities, and how the reality mostly doesn’t live up to their expectations.
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To understand the people's idea of comfort, quality of living, and notions of "home", we traced one of the communities back to their village in Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, where we analyzed the original built environment of this migrant community, and their practices within their rural context.
THE PLACE WE COME FROM
We had a lot to learn from the people in the villages who had a lot of stories and instances to tell us. Talking to them we understood their lifestyles and were moved by their sense of togetherness and how we were welcomed with warm hearts.
Punna Kewat Ji was a 70 year old man whom we met in the village. When he was young he had also migrated to various cities where he worked as a mason at construction sites. He has a son who also works as a construction labourer, is married and has 2 children. His life revolved around his family. He would play with his grandchildren and take them around for walks. He was one of the most friendly people in the village which influenced his daily activities. He spent most of his time walking around the village and interacting with other people who would also come to his house in the evening along with their own grandchildren.
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-Punna Kewat
TRANSFORMING VILLAGE NODES
Keeping in mind the rich culture and the idea of living in harmony as a community and applying our understanding of the context, we designed certain facilities based in the village which would lead to a more comfortable and convenient lifestyle and reduce their dependance on the neighbouring villages and towns for even the most basic necessities.
Arnav Jain
Anshu Bhardwaj
Vicky Kumar Roy
Arnav Jain
Houses made of corrugated steel sheets and steel framework
Drawing a parallel between their lives in a rural and an urban context we realised how dehumanising the conditions in these labour camps are. The dark and dingy tin containers they are provided with, surrounded by nothing more than narrow alleys replace the large open courtyards and the wide streets thereby making life difficult and eliminating the existence of a healthy community life.
The indegenious knowledge and the skill they applied to design the services in the village helped maintain better sanitation and hygiene as compared to those in the labour camps which were always dirty, mostly disfunctional and not sufficient in number.
EXPLORING THE
LABOUR CAMPS
Before studying the built, it was important to understand the stories of the very people inhabiting these spaces. Starting from what the situations back in their village was, we tried understanding their journey of how they ended up here and what their experience has been since they have started living here in these labour camps.
"Apne sapno ko peeche chhod kar main apni zimedaariyan poori karne mein lag gaya." -Guddu Kumar
"My husband and I used to be farmers in our village- Bhagalpur in bihar. For some extra income, we moved to Delhi to find work. We wanted to earn enough money to send our children to school. We want them to be educated & make good lives for themselves, so that they have better and more secure future than us. My husband goes back to the village for up to ten days at a time during harvesting and sowing seasons. This way we are able to provide our children with a better life." - Santosh Devi
"Apne sapno ko peeche chhod kar main apni zimedaariyan poori karne mein lag gaya." -Guddu Kumar
When the green revolution happened in 1992 in North India, my friends and I migrated from Bihar to Punjab in search of some work. We worked there for a while as farmers. But that wasn’t a very reliable and steady source of income. So after a few years we started roaming around looking for work in construction. Since then we have been to most major cities in North India. We go to Punjab sometimes, because we have distant family there. But we don’t do farming there anymore since we don’t have any
"My friend from my village used to work as a construction worker in Delhi. After a while, he was transferred to Saudi Arabia when they needed some people for work. I have been inspired by him; I also want to go to Saudi. So I have been wandering around looking for work in construction, searching for an opportunity to go. I went to Mumbai and Bangalore before coming to Delhi a year ago. Jayenge hum bhi ek din Saudi." - Satendra
When the green revolution happened in 1992 in North India, my friends and I migrated from Bihar to Punjab in search of some work. We worked there for a while as farmers. But that wasn’t a very reliable and steady source of income. So after a few years we started roaming around looking for work in construction. Since then we have been to most major cities in North India. We go to Punjab sometimes, because we have distant family there. But we don’t do farming there anymore since we don’t have any
System using Sandwich Panels and Mild Steel framework Manvi Nigam
On-site Application Mausam Jamwal
System using
System using Sandwich Panels and Mild Steel framework Manvi Nigam
INNOVATING TRANSIENT HABITATION
Engaging with the current habitation environments provided to these people urged us to conceptualise and design new systems which not only eliminate the existing issues, provide a better quality of life, cater to the basic needs, can be reconfigured according to requirements and are transient in nature. These designs were inspired by their lives in the villages.
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