TEXTILE HUB
In England textile industry is female-dominated. The problem of ‘Dark Factories’ exists in Leicester, a bizarre micro-economy where workers are paid 4£ an hour. The major issues faced by women in the textile industry are; Low wages & extended hours, Basic skills and Childcare issues. This project aims to tackle these problems by providing safe working environment, Learning space and Daycare. Overall, this project aims at creating a safe and nurturing space for women, children and the neighborhood of Parker drive. It marks a start towards making a change in the worldwide issue of labor abuse and bring spatial justice.
The site chosen for the project of Textile Hub is parker drive. The placement of the site is on a commercial strip surrounded by suburban housing. The site has a minor sloping topography rising from east to west. The location map shows how a railway line used to pass through the site. The site map illustrates the placement of the site between commercial warehouses and its existing condition. The neighborhood of parker drive is quiet with a lot of construction worker around. My instinct was to create a closed safe space. My design spans through the site, with a central courtyard.
This artwork has been commissioned by Boohoo, an online clothing brand, and De Montfort University. Both are located in Leicester, UK
The parking is placed towards Parker Drive as it is a busier road. The road makes parking very accessible. The building turns away from the busy Parker Drive. The entrance faces towards Menzies road which has fewer moving cars and acts as a good pedestrian entrance. The central courtyard acts a circulation space, it is connected to sub courtyards. Which are private spaces, one them being play area, other parking entrance and fire
escape.
Daycare is an essential service provided by the institute, as it allows young mothers to take care of their children when they are using the institute. This is placed in the corner for privacy and security. In addition, the Daycare has a sub courtyard that is used as a playground.
The café is one of the spaces provided by the institute, which is open to everyone. The space is made of big timber glazed structure framing the view of the courtyard. The building also provides a learning Centre where these women can acquire the help needed to learn English, take A levels, and get counseling. Boosting their self-esteem and making their day-to-day life better.