Youth Empowerment Shelter at Vadodara, Gujarat

Abstract

The youth, who have gone through so many hardships over the years, have lost all sense of place, dignity and belonging. Years of homelessness has stripped them of their identity. The shelters at present provide four walls and a roof, which is nowhere enough for the recovery from homelessness and regain dignity and identity. There is a crucial need to create empathic spaces for these youth which not only provides shelter but also empowers them to regain control over their life. Incorporating empathy in design means the building understands its users and provides a bridge to connect people to space. Can architecture create a sense of place and dignity amongst the homeless? Can a built environment help them in recovering from the state of homelessness and the psychological effects it had caused over the years? The thesis focuses on designing an empathic shelter which would help them in the process of recovery from homelessness. The shelter would provide the youth (age group 14-24) with the means to re-instate effectively the feeling of dignity through empowerment as well as the built environment.