ပစ်တိုင်းေတာင် = Pyit-taing-htaung = Every time you toss it, it stands up

Abstract

RESEARCH QUESTION How can a community-based refugee camp experience that includes the building and occupation of vernacular architecture help address alienation and build resilience?

ABSTRACT Currently, around 82 million people are displaced globally. Many of them are refugees who have been refused citizenship and have no access to fundamental human rights such as education, health care, work, freedom of movement, and freedom of expression. As we speak, refugees are among those who are vulnerable and in need of support. Through a comprehensive design approach and holistic solutions, architecture can help meet the needs of refugees.

Around 1.1 million refugees from Myanmar are situated in large refugee camps between Myanmar and its neighbouring countries, such as Thailand and Bangladesh. Some refugees have been living under these circumstances for over 30 years, which are still described as “temporary shelters” by the authorities. These camps are often isolated from the rest of the world, and refugees are required to live within restricted boundaries. Refugees are often left in the dark about when they will be resettled and where their future lives will occur. A small potion of refugees will be resettled to western countries with help from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). These include countries such as New Zealand, Australia, United States of America, Norway, Sweden, and more. Also, a significant problem lies within refugees’ transition phase after leaving the camp. This is caused by a lack of preparation and guidance when rebuilding their new lives in an entirely new place. However, out of 26.4 million refugees worldwide in 2020, only 34,400 refugees were resettled, and 251,000 refugees were returned to their counties of origin. This means that a long-term solution is needed in solving the refugee crisis, and architecture has the solution for creating meaningful places for millions of refugees who are still trapped in these refugee camps.

This research project aims to understand how architecture can promote hope and assist refugees’ within the refugee camp. The question for the research is: How can a community-based refugee camp experience that includes the building and occupation of vernacular architecture help address alienation and build resilience? The project will be approached with the mindset of refugees’ involvement and allowing them to create their own set of rules and use their own skill sets. Alongside this, a construction system will be developed that will be adaptable to those skill sets. Finally, the project will take full advantage of the limited natural resources available in their environment. It ensures their connectedness to the building and creates a sense of pride and ownership amongst the refugee community. The goal is to achieve an architecture that provides a safe space for refugees and a place where one feels a sense of belonging to motivate refugees to express, educate and prepare themselves for the upcoming future.

SITE: Nupo Temporary Shelter (UNHCR), Umphang District, Thailand