Synergistic Heterogeneity

From the very beginning, Mumbai, was made up of migrants. Its main population growth, at various points throughout its history, occurred primarily through migration. It was a popular place for people fleeing poverty, war and religious prosecution, as well as an attractive place for work and aspiration. ‘Floating populations’ or seasonal migrants existed as early as the 19th century. Rural families throughout India are struggling to make ends meet with agriculture alone, especially with the rising costs of seeds as well as the need for home upgrading and schooling for their children. In order to manage these added costs and gain some economic stability, these families diversify their economic activities by sending members to work in the city. Young men and women travel to the city, in search of temporary work, only to go back 6-10 months later for the harvesting season. They continue this circular migration pattern for years on end, sending money back to the village each month. Eventually, some will choose to join the 100,000 people who settle in the city, buying into the promises of freedom and prosperity. The challenges faced by seasonal migrants moving to the big city are many; low-paying, hazardous work, poor access to health care, lack of education & formal skills, no protection of the law and inadequate housing. At the root of these challenges are the three key factors: lack of education, lack of citizenship, and lack of home (ownership). The home is one crucial element of emancipation for these migrants. This leads to the question: How can a development that integrates flexible accommodation into the existing lower-middle class fabric accommodate the needs and aspirations of seasonal migrants while helping them transition to life in the city? The exploration of this question was instrumental in understanding the plight that seasonal migrants face and helped shape the resulting design project. The project succeeds in housing over a thousand migrants in Nalasopara West. In addition to providing housing, it aims at maintaining affordability for the groups involved and proposes a new, society-led scheme that no longer suffers from developer greed and market trends. The proposed solution is one that can be implemented across India, and one that should serve as a solid stepping stone in starting the discussion around housing temporary migrants and the benefits that this could bring.