Making and Unmaking of Home - Exploring Multi-Generational Living

Growing up in the UK as a second-generation Bangladeshi has prompted deep reflections on the concept of home. While residing in East London, I often questioned whether my sense of belonging stemmed from England itself or from the characteristics of my neighbourhood and household. For instance, sharing seasonal mangoes with my family in England fosters a collective identity linking us to Bangladesh. However, unlike myself, the simple act of consuming mangoes or catching their scent transports my Bangladeshi parents back to their homeland, inundating them with memories and a profound sense of belonging in their new home. This underscores how home-making practices for migrant communities vary among individuals and groups, influenced by cognitive, emotional, and practical dimensions (Boccagni, 2017).



The Museum of Home posits that 'home has many meanings; from the buildings we live in to a feeling that goes beyond a specific time or place.' This notion is showcased through various objects, photos, colours, and cultural/religious practices in their gallery, which also features the home of some migrant communities. However, the museum fails to fully capture the complexity of multigenerational households. Through collaborative studentship, I aim to explore how 'homing' practices are transmitted and transformed across generations within the Bangladeshi and another community. By examining diverse experiences of making and unmaking home across ages, genders, and faith backgrounds via archival and oral history collections, this project will challenge and expand current notions of home, aiding the Museum of Home in better reflecting local community experiences.