MIGRANT HOUSING

CONCEPT
BIOCIRCULER SUSTAINABLE

PERIODE
2020

LOCATE
BENGALURU

Lafarge Holcim International Awards 2020

Entry: Portable Community for Migrant Families – Bangalore

Our proposal was shortlisted for the 6th International Holcim Awards for Sustainable Design and Construction, which recognizes bold ideas in architecture, engineering, and urban planning.

Context

Bangalore is expanding rapidly, and more than 1.3 million residents live in informal settlements, many as migrant laborers from across India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. These families often move from site to site, living in temporary blue tents with no sanitation or childcare. Children play amidst dangerous construction equipment while parents work.

Partnering with Diyaghar, a non-profit that runs childcare classrooms for migrant workers, we envisioned a portable, self-built community that provides safety, dignity, and opportunity.

Design Vision

A human-centered approach trains residents to construct their own homes from mud and bamboo, creating a settlement that can be dismantled and rebuilt when land tenure expires.

  • Typical unit: a home for 4–5 members, plus a 30 m² crèche/study and a 45 m² market space at the community entrance.
  • Landscape: bamboo planters and community garden beds integrated throughout.

Materials & Sustainability

  • Walls & Floors: hand-pressed S-bricks made from excavated soil with 10% cement; grooves in each brick allow electrical and plumbing runs without chiseling.
  • Structure: bamboo for doors, vents, privacy screens, and upper floors; canvas or polycarbonate for lightweight, portable roofs.
  • Carbon Impact: minimal—soil is sourced from nearby construction sites or landfills; bamboo grows quickly and regenerates from its roots.
  • Comfort & Energy: natural cooling through bamboo vents and brick cavities; future-ready for solar energy as subsidies allow.
  • Sanitation: composting toilets with portable seats and tanks, producing bio-gas and reducing open defecation.

Community Participation

The settlement is built and maintained by residents themselves:

  • Men press bricks and lay foundations.
  • Women and elders craft bamboo roofs, vents, and partitions.
  • A community market provides vending space for goods from their home regions, creating a circular economy to help fund maintenance and rentals.
  • Diyaghar operates a daytime childcare center that doubles as an evening study hall.

Economic Viability

  • Typical rent is $30 USD per home per month, partly offset by income from the market.
  • The flexible construction allows the entire community to be relocated without material loss, ensuring long-term affordability.

Outcome

The project creates safe, sanitary, and vibrant living spaces built from low-cost, low-tech methods.
Residents gain:

  • Secure homes and shaded play areas for children.
  • A self-sustaining economy through the community market.
  • Training in sustainable construction techniques and long-term environmental stewardship.

This portable, regenerative neighborhood offers a replicable model for urban centers across India and beyond, proving that design and community empowerment can transform the lives of migrant families.