New Nomadism in the Mongolian Gobi

Abstract

Nomadism refers to a spatial practice in which people move cyclically or periodically from one place to another to sustain their livelihoods. In Mongolia, this way of life has been central to cultural identity, social organization, and resilience for centuries. Historically, Mongolian cities were temporary encampments that moved in response to seasonal conditions, resource availability, and political needs. Even today, Mongolian traditional pastoral herders make up one of the world’s largest last remaining nomadic cultures. An estimated one-third of Mongolia’s population continues to practice pastoral nomadism, relying on animal husbandry and the stewardship of ancestral lands that have been passed down for millennia.

However, after decades of political, economic, and environmental transformation, Mongolia’s nomadic way of life is increasingly challenged by the pressures of urbanization, climate change, land privatization, and resource extraction. In the Great Gobi region of Mongolia, this shift is much evident, where prolonged drought, desertification, and land degradation have accelerated rural displacement and forced many families to abandon their herding livelihoods.

This thesis examines how architecture can respond to the changing conditions of Mongolian pastoralism and proposes a new form of nomadism that strengthens the resilience, autonomy, and continuity of herder communities. The intervention focuses on Gobi herders, exploring how a network of infrastructure and mobile, temporary spaces can support seasonal movement, provide essential services, and reinforce social and ecological stability of nomadic living.