Author: Swetlana Chatterjee
Site Location: Chhapna, West Bengal
Institute: National Institue of Technology, Rourkela
Advisor: Ar. Mohd Nauman Nizamuddin
Description
“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.” — Matsuo Bashō
Children who grow up where their mother’s livelihood is invisible by day and exposed by night are at high risk of abuse, exclusion, and despair. These children suffer from social exclusion, constant anxiety, depression, unmet needs, and fear of being absorbed into the industry, highlighting the urgent need for geographically and culturally appropriate rehabilitation spaces (Nanjunda & Jyothi Lakshmi, 2024). Additionally, the red-light environment is fraught with substance use, violence, crime, and precarious living conditions that are profoundly harmful to a child’s physical and emotional development (Deepa & Manjula, 2020).
The project aims to design a residential rehabilitation center for children of sex workers and minors rescued from sex work, supporting their holistic development. The children of the Sonagachi (ward 18) have been targeted. The site is 22°33’39.55″N 88°30’36.85″E.
It integrates a Class 1-12 school, vocational training, one-stop center, dispensary, residences, and rehabilitation facilities. A feasibility survey included 50 sex-worker mothers, 7 NGO workers, and 206 children from Classes 1-10. Their needs and aspirations informed the design, creating a safe environment that empowers children to reintegrate into society and reclaim their stolen childhoods and futures.
Drawings
Click here to go back to the storehouse.