Housing Design for the Post-War Reconstruction of Homs, Syria
D.D.H. Sjoerds (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
R. Schroën – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
A. Luna Navarro – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
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Abstract
This thesis presents a high-density residential complex for 600 people in post-conflict Homs, Syria. Defying generic humanitarian blocks, the project utilizes four core design principles: layers of privacy, typological diversity, fostering social cohesion, and incremental growth. Crucially, the layers of privacy dictate the entire project across all scales. This is explicitly manifested in the housing layouts, where the floor plans are organized sequentially, positioning private retreats deeper into the dwelling away from the entrance. On a larger scale, this spatial gradient transitions from the public central courtyard to the semi-private access galleries shielded by a secondary facade. To accommodate varied families, the master plan offers typological diversity and enables self-determined incremental growth through double-height voids, allowing internal expansion over time. Ultimately, this framework translates traditional Syrian values into a contemporary density, offering a dignified architectural strategy that supports the psychological recovery of returning families.