Abstract
In 2019, the Syrian refugee crisis reached its seventh year of humanitarian disaster. Designers responded to the crisis by providing habitats requested by non-governmental (NGO) relief agencies, and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). While researching the political, social, and economic policies of place and people, could designers engage in a more proactive multi-disciplinary process to better understand the complexities of displacement, and contribute more informed design opportunities with communities in need? Since 2016, a Miami University architecture studio has collaborated with NGOs and resident Syrian refugees in the Jordanian Za’atari refugee camp to design and construct needed structures. Currently, the studio is collaborating with Oxfam International in Za’atari to design and build community structures using SuperAdobe as a material source. This paper discusses a multi-disciplinary process engaging architecture students with pre-law, finance, and anthropology students collectively exploring social policy such as international refugee law, Jordanian refugee policy, Syrian resettlement laws, financial constructs, and anthropological methods related to community empowerment. Our goal is to help construct the needed structures by deeply understanding parameters of displacement through international refugee laws, governmental financial arrangements, and, by engaging the complexities of our current political crises, understand the ethics in design at this time of humanitarian concern. While our collaboration with Oxfam and the refugee residents results in semi-temporary structures, it is through our role as informed global citizens that we can enact future possibilities with communities to resettle in areas they choose.
Presenters
Diane FellowsAssociate Professor, Architecture and Interior Design, Miami University Ohio Elliott Jones Boyle
Junior Undergraduate Architecture, Miami University (OH) Molly Burns
Junior Undergraduate Architecture, Miami University (Ohio), United States Andrew Porten
Senior Undergraduate Architecture, Miami University (Ohio), United States Mira Patel
Senior Finance Major, Miami University (OH), United States Emily Medosch
Senior Pre-Law Major, Miami University (Ohio), United States Katie Schelli
Senior Pre-law Major, Miami University (Ohio)
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Multi-disciplinary Studio, Social Policy, Politics, Values, Refugee Crises, Diversity, Collaboration
