The Theatre of Transition: House of Hope

Abstract

In Thailand, there are many illegal Burmese migrants and refugees, especially the minority hill tribes, struggling to find better life, escaping from their homeland, from the fear of physical and mental human rights abuses, discrimination, violence, and oppressions from the military forces. But usually what they find themselves in is a similar or sometimes worse condition than before. Amongst those affected, countless number of children are left homeless, and get sent to orphanages, but due to the lack of security and the low education of the general populous, these children are at risk of crimes such as child trafficking, violence, rape, and child labor. This is a project for an orphanage that takes care of displaced Burmese orphans - for children aged from new borns up to fifteen years of age, within the diverse ethnic groups of Burma and Thailand. The children are seeking structured yet open educational system. However, the orphanage only provides them with the bare minimum of what they require, but in the long term scenario, what the children require the most is to learn how to support themselves and to become independent. An Orphanage is neither a 'castle' for children to be secured or fostered in, nor a 'prison' that guards them to be confined in. It needs to become a shelter - like space where they have access to rest, meet others and share knowledge freely. It is what I call a 'theatre' for children to write their own scenario towards transitioning life into adulthood, and reintegrating into society. In fact, orphans need to be supported by society, and society is to be supported by these orphans who will grow up to be the producers and consumers; thus the economical vehicle for the future community of the country. The focus of this thesis is on the design of this 'theatre of transition', examining how the orphanage and the society can reintegrate themselves as a 'theatre', and to perform effectively as a site of transition where the boundaries of the orphanage and the society can stitch together. The proposed solution will provide an 'intermediary space' between the different programs to blur the edge between the two, which allows the interaction between orphans and the community, nature and the building, and interior and exterior, while creating versatile spaces. The overall scheme will provide a positive opportunity towards the children's future, as mature independent adults.