Noor Ul Eman Siddiqui MA Architecture

Immigrant Narratives of Home: A cross-generational study of women’s identity and belonging

This thesis explores the relationship between home, identity and the built environment through the experiences of second-generation immigrant women originating from Saudi Arabia. The journey of migrants involves a series of transitions as they navigate the complexities of adapting to new environments. These individuals actively shape their surroundings to foster a sense of belonging within their host communities, continuously defining and redefining their identities. While notions of home are intricately linked to a place of origin, personal experiences and the built environment, immigrant narratives reveal evolving concepts of home and identity, often transcending geographic locations and aligning with personal memories and lived experiences. 

The research is grounded in a theoretical framework that examines themes of gender, identity and attachment to place, drawing on migration studies and relevant literature. This framework informs the analysis and interpretation of the data, providing an in-depth understanding of the factors that influence the participants’ experiences. Using qualitative research methods, including ethnographic interviews and photo-elicitation, the study gathers data on how these women negotiate their sense of belonging within diverse spatial contexts. It also examines how domestic spaces are organised and personalised, reflecting the gendered dimensions of home. The findings, visually represented through diagrams and illustrations, demonstrate that the concept of home for these women is a fluid and evolving construct shaped by material memories, spatial practices and physical space. This research contributes to architectural theory by addressing the gendered and generational aspects of immigration, offering insights into the role of the built environment in shaping identity and belonging.