The newly emerging privileged breed of people popularly coined as the ‘Digital Nomads’ is booming in large numbers. The improved mutant of transitory traditional nomads, they travel and anchor themselves preferably in a pre-existing community with suitable infrastructure, for a desired short duration. Even though technology helps their mobility, the indigenous society and local community also play a significant role in their journey.

Having the thirst of authentic tourists, they look forward to the knowledge and emotional exchange with the locals. Their give and take transactions are necessary for the human race to promote interculturality and maintain global cross-boundary relations. The Digital Nomads are certainly a boon for society. It is essential to morph these travelers within the existing local fabric. Thus, the aim of the research thesis is to define a social infrastructure that gathers and centralizes Digital Nomads by promoting chanced encounters with the pre-existing local communities.

Research advances by studying community-based Business Models of ‘Zostel, we-work, Park & Play’. All work towards getting diverse communities together. The hybrid models like Unsettled (Bali), Selina (Global), Outsite (Global); have a comprehensive range of spaces and programs that not only serve all infrastructural needs of a Digital Nomad but also promote numerous exchanges with the locals.

Streamlining the context of research, Worli Koliwada in Mumbai is selected as the zone for intervention. The need of the hour is to preserve the livelihood of an indigenous community that is endangered, by converting it into a sustainable community model. Amplifying the importance of these indigenous communities by developing them for tourism as they hold a factor of diverse engagement. Thus, the design proposal will house local, domestic, foreign visitors who wish to be a part of this arrangement. They will be asked to sign-up for a RENTAL MODEL, a combination of Amenities +Leisure +Engagement. A model which provides an incentive to both the parties, by providing diverse opportunities for chanced encounters.

KEYWORDS: Digital Nomads, Social Infrastructure, Anchor points, Interactions, Indigenous, Unrooted, Economic Model