VIRTUAL: Livable Cities – New York
Abstract
Refugee camps have traditionally been viewed as temporary settlements that offer little in terms of livability. However, recent studies have demonstrated that these camps operate as livable communities, complete with their own distinct cultures, economy, and social dynamics. This paper examines the idea of refugee camps as livable cities, providing basic needs while also fostering a sense of belonging for their inhabitants. Drawing on case studies from Jordan, the country hosting the largest number of refugees, this study argues that refugee camps can transition into dynamic, adaptable urban ecosystems from temporary shelters, while considering the role of refugees in exercising ownership of their spaces. It follows the case of Al-Baqa’a refugee camp and compares its development to the more recent Azraq camp, highlighting the patterns of transition and forecasting future scenarios. While acknowledging the challenges faced by refugee camps, this research proposes a basic framework to support the transition of refugee camps from temporary shelters to permanent dwellings, moving away from the notion of temporary solutions and towards a more long-term approach to refugee settlement. By doing so, more humane and sustainable responses could be created to address the global refugee crisis.
Noor Marji is an architect, urban planner, and PhD researcher at the Czech Technical University in Prague. Her research integrates Artificial Intelligence and architecture, specializing in transient built environments, urban regeneration, post-war urban reconstruction, and development of vulnerable communities, with a focus on Middle Eastern countries.
Prof. Ing. arch. Michal Kohout is an Architect, pedagogue and theoretician, and head of the Institute of Building Science at the Faculty of Architecture at the Czech Technical University. He is an authorized architect of the ČKA, a member of the Academy of Architecture, co-founder of the architectural office UNIT architekti, the research organization Center for the Quality of Living and the Zlatý řez publishing house.
Lijun Chen is a lecturer in Design and designer. She is pursuing her PhD at the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University in Prague. Her research focuses on Transition Design, and is integrated into the areas of Social Design, System Innovation, Sustainable Design, and Inclusive Design in the context of addressing the wellbeing of older people and sustainable transitions in communities. She has also previously worked in product design, as a lecturer, head of international office, Cumulus coordinator at the Gengdan Institute of Beijing University of Technology.
Gülbahar Emir Işık has experienced several practical projects related to BIM, particularly healthcare and educational projects, in several countries. While pursuing undergraduate education specializing in architecture at BAU, she took an intense interest in the relationship between architecture and the city and completed a master’s degree in urban design at ITU. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student working with Prof. Dr. Henri Achten on Digital Twin Studies in architecture at CTU. Her work focuses specifically on digital twins and architectural design processes.
Akshatha Ravi Kumar is an Architect-Designer and Urban Planner. She is currently pursuing her PhD studies in Urban Planning at the Czech Technical University in Prague. Her research mainly focusing on heritagization of built environment in post mining cities and the study is conducted on the City of Most in North Bohemia as a specific case study.