Elaboration

Studio 01 - Exchange | Design Thesis Elaboration

Women and homelessness

The main contributor for women experiencing homelessness throughout Australia is from family and domestic violence. Recorded by the ‘Young Women’s Catholic Organisation’ (YWCA), Australia; 64% of women who are experiencing homelessness or who have sought out support had experienced domestic and family violence.2 In conjunction the ‘Council to Homeless Persons – Victoria’, recorded 93% of clients had experienced domestic violence were women and children. Overwhelmingly the female victims outweighed the male victims with having one in four women abused by their intimate partner, compared to one in thirteen men.3 These women are also vulnerable to homelessness due to the average pay difference between men and women, and struggle to keep themselves and if they have families afloat.4

Not all women who experience domestic or family violence will become homeless but seek support from leading organisations. This can be due to the lack of available housing or lack of affordable housing for individuals and families.5 But interacting and connecting with individuals who come from similar circumstances is important to enhance an individual’s moral and sense of feeling safe and secure.

Homelessness Statistics

2. Amanda Chan, “New figures reveal Victorian women face growing risk of homelessness,” Young Women Catholic Organisation, Published 2021, https:// www.ywca.org.au/news/media-release-new-figures-reveal-victorian-womenface-growing-risk-of-homelessness/. 3. Council to Homeless Persons, Homelessness and domestic and family violence, 1, 2, https://chp.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Homelessness-andDomestic-and-Family-Violence.pdf 4. Council to Homeless Persons, Homelessness and women, 1, https://chp.org. au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Homelessness-and-women.pdf 5. Chan, “New figures reveal Victorian women face growing risk of homelessness.”

Homelessness Statistics

Studio 01 - Exchange | Design Thesis Elaboration

Connection through architecture

Marc Kushner’s TED Talk about ‘Why the buildings of the future will be shaped by … you’ conveys architecture to have the power to make the user feel visceral emotions. It does this by triggering emotional connections to enforce a particular reaction from the occupant.6 These interactions we have with one another can be affiliated by how we feel within a particular architectural space, not necessarily about who we are surrounded by.

Architecture not only connects us with our community but also with ourselves. This is done through triggering an emotional connection through our sensors to a particular object, so much so that we can affiliate a particular piece of architecture with a prior experience.7 Using open space in architecture can be used as a mediation for where social connections can be safely made and without pressure of feeling forced. Through this encouragement social interactions can be strengthened within the community.

Using architecture as a foundation for forming connections between the community is fundamentally important for those in need. Allowing individuals to form a sense of purpose through architecture can be achieved through various programs that lead to a common goal. Through experience a particular activity together, to educating one another, and exchanging knowledge can all be achieved within an architectural space. It can form meaningful connections within the community through socialization and collaborating to a common outcome.8

6. Marc Kushner, “Why the buildings of the future will be shaped by … you,” filmed at TEDGlobal 2014, 2014, TED Video, 17:56, https://www.ted.com/ talks/marc_kushner_why_the_buildings_of_the_future_will_be_shaped_by_ you?referrer=playlist-how_architecture_can_connect_u 7. Ankita Agrawal, “What architects must know about Human connection with architecture,” Rethinking The Future, https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/ rtf-fresh-perspectives/a3468-what-architects-must-know-about-humanconnection-with-architecture/. 8. “Our Purpose,” Fawkner Food Bowls, https://www.fawknerfoodbowls.com/ purpose.

The value of social connections

Marlee Bower, Elizabeth Conroy and Janette Perz, ‘Australian homelessness persons’ experiences of social connectedness, isolation, and loneliness’, undertook research through interviewing sixteen either homeless or had been homeless participants. The article aimed to understand loneliness through the lack of social integration within the homeless community. Through descriptive transcripts from the participants outlined that the broader community would discriminate and ultimately turn a blind eye to any individual that was associated with homelessness. This would then push the individuals to further isolate themselves from the community.9 The article spoke volumes in relation to how important it is for our social well-being and physical mental health is to be apart and accepted within our community.

‘Connections matter.’ The first words stated by Beyond Blue in reference to mental health and socialization within our communities. Being connected and relating to not only our peers but our wider community is important for our mental health and development. It increases our well-being, security, and sense of purpose.10 Architecture can help support and encourage social interactions and ensure that an individual feels as though they are apart of the community. This can be through the programs the architecture is designed for, to how an individual interaction with the architecture. The space will aim to encourage socialization and form a sense of inclusiveness.

9. Marlee Bower, Elizabeth Conroy, Janette Perz, Australian homeless persons’ experiences of social connectedness, isolation and loneliness (Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2017), 1-8, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/hsc.12505?saml_referrer. 10. “Connections matter,” Beyond Blue, https://www.beyondblue.org.au/whodoes-it-affect/older-people/connections-matter#:~:text=Strong%20ties%20 with%20family%2C%20friends,factor%20against%20anxiety%20and%20 depression.

Studio 01 - Exchange | Design Thesis Thesis Proposal

Programmatic solution

This thesis proposition will be within the eastern suburb of Mitcham at the Mitcham Railway Station. Designed to create an all-inclusive environment through the exchange between members of the community and the vulnerable. Unlike other public spaces there will be specific programs that will be dedicated to the women who are most at risk of homelessness, if not already homeless. This is to encourage a sisterhood within the community to support the ongoing programs but to encourage connection and visibility within a busy society. These programs will also support this group and formulate an ecosystem that would benefit both the homeless women and the community who occupy the exchange.

Mitcham train station’s sole purpose is to connect occupants to the greater suburbs and the Melbourne CBD. ‘Connection’ proposal can formulate new associations with not only the suburbs vulnerable women but connect other women from neighboring suburbs and greater Melbourne to these proposing facilities. The proposing communal programs will not only benefit the wellbeing of the vulnerable women within the Mitcham society but the wider community. This will be achieved through the ecosystem that is being formulated to feed, educate and support both the vulnerable and exchange community.

Programme workflow