Grounded in the cultural concept of nature as a divine feminine, this project envisions safe urban sanctuaries for young girls in India, addressing and confronting systemic gender-based challenges. Despite a culture that venerates nature as a powerful feminine force, young girls in India often face severe adversities such as female infanticide, child marriage, child labor, and sex slavery.

Establishing a new paradigm by returning to native, traditional practices that centered on and respected womanhood, these centers will nurture the girls' potential through empowerment, equity, and sustainability

The goal is to foster an environment where young girls can overcome societal burdens, thrive, and become resilient. 

Welcome to Abhaya Nivas:  A Fearless Dwelling for Vulnerable Girls

This thesis is immersed in materialist feminism, which critically examines the social and economic structures that perpetuate gender inequality, with a particular focus on the family, domesticity, and motherhood. Utilizing this theory, I will maintain a focus on reclaiming domestic spaces and defining a "feminine" space, as well as examining the association of women with specific spaces such as the kitchen, and expanding these spaces into a celebrated, collaborative, public realm. This endeavor seeks to redefine the characteristics constituting a "feminine" space, considering the intricate dynamics influenced by societal expectations, gender roles, and historical constraints. The design offers spaces to feel safe, to live, to work, and to feel celebrated in a joint community.