From the moment they are duped into believing in a utopian lifestyle, to their day to-day working and living conditions once they arrive in... Show moreFrom the moment they are duped into believing in a utopian lifestyle, to their day to-day working and living conditions once they arrive in the country, to the denial of theirrights for years after they are stuck in the country, the migration of workers from other
countries into the Emirates is a neglected humanitarian issue. The United Arab Emirates
and several other GCC countries have a heinous habit of recruiting illiterate foreigners into
their country and abusing them as if they were modern-day slaves. Many nations and
individuals have legal control over immigrants by applying the Kafala sponsorship system
and ignoring international norms and rights established by organizations like the
International Labor Organization. While the Kafala system is only one of many aspects of
the whole problem, this thesis will seek to identify the influence of architecture on the lives
of the South Asian labor force who work behind the beautiful façade of the United Arab
Emirates by reconstructing the labor community. These colossal structures are built and
shown while the individuals who construct them are ignored and hidden. Immigrant low income labor employees bear the brunt of their hard life-work imbalance with the intention
of providing assistance to their family in their home nations. The labor force of Dubai
becomes the major target of the terrorists, isolated from Dubai's pleasure amenities,
socially detached from the rest of the population, and separated from their creations. By
creating a landmark and developing a sense of social coherence, integration, and
empowerment among the labor community, this initiative intends to bridge the divide and
commemorate the labor community. This project will propose a new sort of community
and housing typology that embraces the ideals of modularity, adaptability, and community
as a solution to the immigrant worker dilemma. Show less
