Al Zaatari Refugee Camp as Permanent Housing

Abstract

It is estimated that 65.6 million people worldwide are forcibly displaced out of their homes, 22.5 million refugees, 13 million displaced from Syria, in results of civil war crises, now close it its seventh year. Syrian refugees fled mostly to near by countries by their border like, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, which has the largest refugee camp for Syrian refugees in the world. In Al Zaatari Refugee Camp, refugees are living in tents and fabricated caravans, in extreme poverty and harsh weather conditions, without adequate infrastructure. Refugees in Jordan and other countries are putting financial and economical strings on their hosing countries’ development. Despite that small percentage of refugees’ lives in refugees camps compared to urban areas, they are most vulnerable. By overlooking there living situation and improving its conditions, through urban design and architecture to re‐shape their living space, which will enhance their individual identity, to make them a productive and active part connected to the hosting society. Through understanding of historical, social and psychical environment, where they came from, their needs to have adequate housing conditions that would encourage positive behavior, descent living and restore their dignity. This project will aim to re‐think refugee camp as temporary housing with more permanent solutions “permanent housing” to provide people a cleaner and safer dwellings, the new and challenging approach argues that instead of creating refugees camps we should consider permanent approaches through design solutions, to encourage better living conditions. The project will serve as an example for other countries to consider permanent housing instead of refugee camps, which will benefit both the refugees and their hosting countries.