Architecture isn't usually what comes to mind when one thinks of refugee camps, so the Embassy for Refugees looked to change that. London-based designer Natasha Reid worked with children to create a sculptural pavilion for the United Kingdom's Refugee Week. The Embassy for Refugee project combined advocacy with architecture to commission the experimental design.
The 'Transient Sanctuary' is made out of a flat pack kit of over 700 timber parts that had to be machine cut with extreme precision. This resulted in two scaled structures that offer shelter, but are also open. This in itself demonstrates issues with current refugee camps.
The Pavilion is meant to offer refuge to those who seek it within the city of London. The prominence of the sanctuaries is meant to bring ambassadorial status to this important social justice issue.
Architectural Refugee Shelters
The Embassy for Refugees Commissioned this Awareness-Raising Design
Trend Themes
1. Refugee Camp Architecture - The use of innovative and sustainable design principles within refugee camps to meet basic human needs and improve quality of life.
2. Community-inclusive Design - Designing structures collaboratively with local communities to reflect cultural and social inclusivity while addressing humanitarian concerns.
3. Advocacy Through Design - Creating structures that raise awareness and advocacy for human rights, social justice and environmental issues.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Architects can design sustainable and inclusive refugee camps that meet basic human needs and improve the quality of life for refugees.
2. Humanitarian - Humanitarian organizations can collaborate with local communities and implement design principles that address humanitarian concerns, raise awareness and improve the living conditions of refugees.
3. Environmental - Organizations can incorporate sustainable materials and design techniques to create structures that are environmentally friendly and support long-term climate resilience for refugees.