Safe Fitness Spaces: Setting Women Free (all women sports and communal hub)

Abstract

Sports have been and continue to be an important part of the society. The world has become sports obsessed, and that too for a good reason. Sports, recreation and free time activities are fundamental elements of a good quality life. Multiple researches show that an active participation in such activities is essential for the physical and mental well-being of a person. These not only contribute in the all-round development of personality of a human i.e. Sportsmanship, learning from failure, dedication, promoting ethical values (punctuality, patience, discipline, teamwork), building confidence, etc., but also help bind communities through shared experiences, by bringing people together, and providing them opportunities for social interaction. A critical issue faced throughout history when it comes to recreational activities is the lack of opportunities for females due to various stereotypes that the society expects them to adopt by fulfilling their gender roles. This thesis project aims to research the specific requirements of all age groups when it comes to sports and recreational activities, and re-establish the importance of these activities in the house-bound lifestyle of a female and design a facility that provides them an opportunity to indulge in such activities. The focus is on utilizing the transition spaces in the design in such a way that it creates a journey that makes sports less intimidating for females who are new to it, by introducing them to it in an informal way first, rather than putting them straight into limelight.