The Refugee City

Master thesis (2015)

Authors

Contributors

M. Smit (mentor)
J. Latka (mentor)
M. Meijs (mentor)
Programme
Architectural Engineering (Architecture and the Built Environment) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2015 Gul, Twana
Recycling Sustainable housing Refugees Reusable Refugee Camp Local materials Building with earth Building with reed Kurdistan UNHCR
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Published Date

23-06-2015

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Programme

Architectural Engineering

Abstract

In most emergency outbreaks a huge amount of people flee to refugee camps and are in need of protection, shelter, food and medics for an unknown amount of time. The duration of their stay depends on the pace of the war or natural disaster. The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) has been utilising a variety of solutions to accommodate the people. Based on my research, I can imply that most of these units are poorly maintained and perform indigent during low and high temperatures. There are no progressive public to private zones. The core shelter - the tent - is not upgradable, nor recyclable or reusable. Furthermore it seems that most units are not utilising the environmental resources, such as the sun and earth, in an intelligent manner to supply the shelters with heat, water and electricity. Finally, all camps eventually perform as cities located far from the existing cities, sadly this off-the-grid (OTG) notion is not explored beforehand during a design phase to be prepared for the future. The objective is to develop an off-the-grid refugee city based on local materials and environmental resources. The design should have the ability to be realised on different locations. The shelters should exchange energy, climate and waste.