Construction sites are a common sight these days for us urban dwellers. Large gated communities, shopping complexes, tech parks, metro rail, and flyovers are spread across cities as they continue to expand at the expense of nature. Working behind the scenes are migrants workers who come into cities hoping to earn a decent living. They often bring their families along, who assist them in the workplace or find odd jobs nearby. Devoid of information on labor laws and lacking bargaining power, they are subject to exploitative labor arrangements that force them to work in low-end, low-value, hazardous work.
Of course, it’s very pleasing when you visit your upcoming dream apartment/ house, making sure everything promised by the builder is in place. But take a closer look around, and what’s noticeable is the dire state of the living spaces provided to the construction workers. In some cases, a running water supply or constant electricity is hard to come by. The children living on construction sites often suffer from malnutrition, undernourishment, accidents, and innumerable health problems. Since both the parents are working, the mothers usually leave their children to fend for themselves and are often seen wandering around the site all day. As these children fail to receive proper nourishment and care during their formative years, their development is retarded, which leads to problems going into the future.
Preschool education is pivotal for a child’s development. However, such platforms are too expensive for their parents. There are plenty of NGO’s which go about helping underprivileged children with their education, what is lacking though is a fun/ productive space for engaging with them.
This got us thinking about shipping containers. Having worked in an office made entirely of shipping containers, it wasn’t hard to imagine them used for something as simple as a makeshift playschool. With a bit of fabrication, and the right set of interiors, it is more than possible. There are plenty of instances where shipping containers are converted into cafes, houses, and offices.
Proposed Concept
A standard shipping container is 8 feet wide, 8.5 feet high, and comes in two lengths; 20 feet and 40 feet. Both the interiors and exteriors are easy to customize and can be painted in vibrant colors to make them look pleasing to the eye. This arrangement is temporary and can be removed or relocated once the project ends. The intent here is to provide a fun and safe space for children to play and learn while their parents are busy working throughout the day.
Why use shipping containers?
Modular.
Containers can be arranged in the desired orientation, vertically as well as horizontally. Thereby making effective use of space.
Frugal.
Containers require minimal investment when it comes to interiors. The interiors can be made by up-cycling old rubber tires (for seating), simple foldable tables mounted onto the walls.
Portable.
They are portable, which means they can be moved from one site to another without much problem. They maybe temporary, but very sturdy.
Eco-friendly.
With the use of containers, there would be little, or no need for any construction materials such as bricks, cement, etc. It is better to up-cycle these containers rather than scrap them.
Observations
Some of the observations made while taking a stroll through a construction site:
- The construction workers live with their families in makeshift shelters built with metal sheets in and around the construction site.
- Majority of these sites are not equipped with proper sanitation and drinking water facilities.
- The children are often seen playing around in the mud, in unsafe conditions.
Final Outcome
We have tried our best to showcase what the proposed concept might look like in a real setting. The orientation is subject to change based on the site location and number of containers required.
Stakeholders & Business Model
We have come up with a proposed business model along with the potential stakeholders. The shipping containers are procured (CONCOR can play a huge part), modified, and supplied to real estate developers by an independent organization (in this case, our fictitious organization). Collaboration with real estate developers and logistics providers is crucial. They may avail of the modified shipping containers for the duration of the construction project (like a subscription). For example, developers such as Prestige, Embassy, etc. usually have projects which take several years to complete (not to mention some of them get delayed) and employ a large number of migrant workers who could benefit from this service.
One might even consider this as fulfilling social responsibility on behalf of the real estate developers. They receive a lot of stick from customers, environmentalists, and neighboring residents anyway. On a more serious note, non-profits such as “Teach for India” who encourage college graduates and professionals to take up two years of full time teaching for low-income schools can be viewed as potential partners. After all, we’re sure those of you who managed to read this far can acknowledge the importance of early childhood education.
Any suggestions and investments are most welcome!