Yearbook of THU-ARCH

"Skys as rooftops, streets as a home" is a Chinese slang which describes the lives of the homeless. Their lifestyle has broken the boundary between home and the city. If the city provides shelters, social service, counseling, and legal aids to those on the streets, stability would be brought in their lives and they would have a sense of self-sufficiency. In the process of the empowerment, it will create social occasions and opportunities for the homeless to interact with the society.

This project, which combines public baths with hostels, can attract inhabitants and tourists. The public bath is not only for showering, but also socializing and relaxing as well. Moreover, it can bring people from different social stratifications together by not only taking off their clothes, but also the social status the clothing representsm. Gradually, this community empowerment will change the stigma around homelessness and enhance the public's understanding of poverty.