Bridging The Gap: Applying Intersectionality and Participatory Planning Frameworks to Understand the Spatial Experience of Transgender Devotees at Saundatti

Abstract

The research related to spatial perspective, lived experiences of transgender and gender diverse communities, and their role in architectural studies is unexplored. This paper summarizes validation from 30 empirical studies published between 2016 and 2026 to review how the participatory planning approaches and intersectionality frameworks can jointly provide knowledgeable insights into futuristic transgender inclusive architectural practices. The physical environment manifested by conventional normative operations, regulatory surveillance practices, and inequitable restrictive design standards operates to intensify marginalisation across micro to macro spatial environments and housing geographies. This marginalization is further aggravated by cross cutting dimensions of caste, localities / areas, races, context, religions unevenly burdening the marginalized trans population targeting those located in Global South and most of Asian countries. By applying community engaged methods and strategies, spatial tracking of participant group, field based spatial tracking, participant led asset frameworks, the paper demonstrate that highlighting transgender daily lived insights during planning phases generates more responsive identity affirming, culturally grounded spatial / architectural spaces. Case studies from student housing design, hijra spatial formations in South Asia, sacred pilgrimage sites, and urban safety mapping initiatives demonstrate revolutionary possibilities. The findings reveal persistent voids within architectural literature featuring shortage of concrete planning design parameters, dimensional baselines, building code integrations, built space assessment tools that cause barriers to universal inclusive design practices. The insights demonstrate that establishing spatial equity for transgender communities requires deep shift in perspectives of architectural discourse: the one that moves with cosmetic readjustments towards realistic design within spatial settings. The do this one should collaborate with the residents, occupants, and work on the same table with policy makers, designers.The investigation is dealing with, lived experiences of marginalized third gender population and their contribution in architectural studies is unexamined. This study looks at 30 empirical studies published between 2016 and 2026 to assess how community participation strategies and intersectional framework can collaborate and provide new perspectives into futuristic inclusive design practices. The physical surroundings shaped by traditional standard setting, statutory monitoring modalities and asymmetrical exclusive design practices serves to amplify the social exclusion within localized to global spatial contexts.