This project, Women in Transit: Considerations for Kitchen Design for Formal Settlements in Bangladesh, explores the challenges and key factors in designing kitchens for women in informal settlements. The focus is on women who have migrated from rural to urban areas, driven by rapid urbanization due to climate change and economic factors. As a result of this, informal settlements are increasing in Bangladesh.

The goal of this project is to enhance awareness among NGOs regarding key factors that need to be considered when designing homes for women who are currently residing in urban informal settlements. The central focus is food preparation and cooking, which play a vital role in the daily lives of these women.

Therefore, through interviews, field research, and a literature review, the report explores the cultural, social, economic, and practical aspects of kitchen design. It examines how women in rural areas often cook on open fires in private spaces, and how this changes when they move to urban areas, where kitchens are usually shared and gas stoves are used. The shift from rural to urban living brings both challenges and opportunities as women adapt to new cooking methods, environments, and social settings.

Furthermore, based on this research, design guidelines have been developed to help NGOs understand the needs of women transitioning from informal to formal housing more effectively. These guidelines focus on creating kitchens that support women’s social connections, maintain their cooking traditions, and address practical needs.

The final result of this project is a booklet that tells the story of Sadia, a woman who moves from a rural area to an urban informal settlement and eventually to formal housing. Sadia’s journey highlights the challenges women face in cooking, adjusting to new social dynamics, and adapting to new living conditions, as well as the opportunities that open up for her.

The aim of the booklet is to help NGOs thoroughly understand and empathize with women like Sadia when designing formal housing. The booklet provides design ideas for kitchens that are culturally appropriate and support women in their roles of cooking and caregiving. This is achieved by offering design options for both low- and high-density housing, as well as different living environments that can influence how women cook and manage their daily tasks.

This graduation project explores how design can improve the quality of life for women living in informal settlements in and around their homes in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Titled "A Safe Return," the project focuses on designing new housing for residents of the Sweepers Colony, an informal settlement in Sylhet, while also providing housing solutions for middle and high-income groups. The core aim is to enhance the lives of women through improved living conditions by ensuring safety through "eyes on the street" in public spaces, maintaining privacy within homes, and creating areas where children can play freely. It also seeks to establish spaces for communal gatherings from urban to unit scale, fostering connections with the neighboring Hindu community, and providing opportunities for self-development among women. Furthermore, the design incorporates private sanitation and washing facilities and introduces greenery to enhance the living environment. A significant aspect of the project is addressing the challenges posed by climate change, which plays a crucial role in designing the new neighborhood. The strategy spans multiple scales, from urban public spaces to urban clusters, and from clusters to individual units. "A Safe Return" aims to offer women a secure transition from their current living conditions in the informal settlement to their new homes, ensuring a significant improvement in their quality of life.