Syeda Iffat Zahan

Creating a Cultural Haven - Fostering Harmony in a Mosaic of Diversity

Human civilization has encompassed migration for centuries. We have always relocated in groups and as individuals to search for freedom from war and conflict, to escape starvation and poverty, to escape from religious intolerance or political repression, to find new economic opportunities and employment, or even for business and travel to new places. The ancient migration started from Africa around 60,000 years ago and continued until it reached every continent.  From the early years of my life up to the present, I have also gone through relocation to many places both inside and outside my nation in search of greater prospects for study, employment, and opportunities.

I noticed that the community, the interests of the people, the customs, and the culture were different as I was transferring to different places. There are variances in the customs and activities even within the country. From a small community to a larger one with more diversified populations and occupations and afterward moving to the capital city of the country, the whole experience was diverse. When I came to Winnipeg, this new part of the world consisted of more contrasts as there were variations in cultures, ethnicities, religions, and languages, which created a cultural mosaic in this city. 

Being motivated by the idea of Multiculturalism, I intend to work with the hybrid cultural expression in a community space by exploring the variation of cultures and community activities from different parts of the world, collecting the common elements that I can incorporate into my thesis work and create an architecture at the heart of West End, a multi-ethnic neighborhood in Winnipeg, where people from any community can gather to socialize, share positive thoughts with other communities, and embrace their own culture without any hesitancy.