A Narrative of Community

Abstract

This thesis attempts to create a dialogue between architecture and humanity with a focus on the migrant population of Guangzhou, China - a city which has expanded rapidly without consideration for its culture and society. This group of people experiences a significant shift in location once a year in the event of Chinese New Year. The train station leading out of the city becomes a platform for a community of millions of travellers. In this thesis I investigate how architecture can harness the spirit of this annual event and attempt to subjectively design spaces which inform an identity within a community. Identity and a sense of self belonging are integral to human nature and utilising architecture as a vessel of both these.