Architecture Thesis/ Gendered Space

USING MOBILITY TO DISMANTLE THE EVERYDAY PRODUCTION OF GENDER

The 21st century came with promises of better future(s). Who were these promises made to? Who was going to keep them? What were these promises?

The future lies in interdisciplinary collaborations. It lies in using tools provided through various pedagogies but also lived experiences to achieving a truly meaningful design practice. Design is a powerful tool to visualise research and therefore provide solutions. My research topic was highly informed by the women in my life, my mother, the women of her generation, my grandmother and the women of her generation. It began from breaking down the human geography* of our city and documenting it. As a student of space whose focus has always been on people, places and their narratives. As a person constantly evolving in and moving through space, my vision was to develop ways of representing data in a manner that is human. As a queer, brown, woman living in the unforgiving city of Karachi, my vision is that of a feminist future where women and all other gender minorities occupy streets, alley, storefronts, squares, rickshaws, buses, park the same way the men of our city do. To practice imagination as a way of healing and bringing forth a future where our demands from Karachi do not end at safety but also demand the right to loiter and saunter aimlessly. This thesis is an exploration into various themes of gender that can be used to help designers develop sensitivity when planning cities. It is still evolving into and becoming a design guide or a tool kit using theories of proxemics, production of space, mobility and the practice of our daily lives in consideration. *or anthropogeography is the branch of geography that deals with humans and their communities, cultures, economies, and interactions with the environment by studying their relations with and across locations

WHY LOITER Shilpa Phadke

PRACTICE OF EVERYDAY LIFE Michel De Certeau

A chance of an encounter

If the lxb ratio of the site is more than 1’3 It makes the users alienated from the context

Constant element of Social surveillance

People walk in triangles

A chance of an encounter

Constant element of Social surveillance

People walk in triangles

All users of public space, regular and irregular Conduct all other activities In between the circulation And in that way they inform the edges of that place

People move in huddles, specially when waiting for a bus

Longer but relatively safer routes Are opted, mostly by women Lingering, walking slowly, stopping For juice, chips etc, is how gendered Bodies resist spatial expectations Male dominated zones are avoided when possible A chance of an encounter

Women feel safer around kids, Even if they are not related

A chance of an encounter

A chance of an encounter

Male dominated zones are avoided when possible

How many times a day do you leave your home?

How old are you?

Once; 5.41%

40-60; 5.94% 12-15 yrs ; 19.80%

2 times ; 13.51%

4-5 times; 54.05% 25-40; 44.55% 2-3 times; 27.03% 16-25yrs; 29.70%

4-5 times

2-3 times

2 times

Once

12-15 yrs

16-25yrs

25-40

40-60

How often do you buy grocery for your home?

Once a week; 8.33%

How do you go around the neighbourhood?

Bike; 8.70%

Car; 3.11%

Rickshaw; 19.88%

Thrice/week; 33.33% Everyday ; 58.33%

Walking ; 68.32%

Everyday

Thrice/week

Once a week

Walking

Rickshaw

Bike

Car

How much time do you spend in one place in your neighbourhood while walking?

Do you have any friends in this neighbourhood?

2-3 minutes; 8.33%

None; 17.28%

Yes, many ; 43.21% 5-10 mins ; 33.33% 10-15 minutes; 58.33%

A few; 39.51%

Yes, many

A few

None

10-15 minutes

5-10 mins

2-3 minutes

What is the

Stop for a few minutes, if I run into someoneof I purpose know ; 6.78%

Have you ever stayed outdoors for recreational purposes? Like talking, eating, relaxing this pause? What do you do when you stop on the way?

Yes; 14.29%

Wait outside my childrens' school; 33.90%

Waiting for the bus; 33.90%

Buying grocery; 25.42%

Wait outside my childrens' school Buying grocery Waiting for the bus Stop for a few minutes, if I run into someone I know

I would love to; 57.14%

No; 28.57%

Yes

No

I would love to

Why do you take longer routes from one place to another?

The other streets are full of mechanics, this is sunny and dusty but its open I prefer taking this route when I am alone or with my daughter, when I am with my friends we take the streets These men are not harmful, but sometimes they whistle at you and sing songs, it makes me a little uncomfortable But what can I say, they work so hard everyday It makes me really angry, specially when I take care of kids and carry baggage I like the longer walk actually, it’s the only time I am free and it keeps me fit Are you from the government? Why are you asking me these questions (Ignores blatantly, and walks away) (Pretends to listen, nods and walks away)

THE GEOGRAPHY OF FEAR

DISCOMFORT/ANXIETY

RELIEF

THE GEOGRAPHY OF FEAR

DISCOMFORT/ANXIETY

RELIEF

A pocket to pause in to loiter

Understanding that the public infrastructure Needs to accept leisure in the public Realm as a part of a better city

Allow women the space to resist spatiality

To have minimal interventions instead of Autonomous spaces for women A hub for women of all ages, races, religions, Ethnicities to feel sage in and have Chance encounters, a moment of sharing joy

Pedestrian path

Pedestrian path Vehicular flow

Pedestrian path Vehicular flow

v

Pedestrian path Vehicular flow

v

Gathering/Collection point Permeable edges

v

Gathering/Collection point Permeable edges

v

Pause/Waiting

v

Gathering/Collection point Pedestrian path Pause/Waiting

A

A’ PLAN AT 6’

SECTION AA’

v

Pedestrian path Vehicular flow

v

Gathering/Collection point Permeable edges

v

Direct connections between different accesses Gathering/Collection point Permeable edges

v

Direct connections between different accesses Gathering/Collection point Permeable edges

v

v

Direct connections between different accesses Gathering/Collection point Permeable edges

Her City, Her Stories is focused on mapping the mobility experiences of working women from different areas of Karachi. The number of financially independent women is on a constant rise with more and more women capitalizing on employment opportunities to support their families. Our focus is to examine the problems they encounter when trying to navigate the city and the way they use public space to their advantage.