Repair in Spaces of Exception: The Encampment of Refugees in Jordan

Abstract

Refugee camps, although designed and perceived as temporary structures that support communities in times of crisis, are long-lasting. On average, a refugee spends seventeen years living in a camp. In Jordan, a 74-year-old refugee camp presents a paradox. Although part of the urban fabric, it is not fully integrated with the city and impoverished conditions. This raises questions regarding the social, political, and spatial dynamics between the camp, the refugees and the host city’s institutions and services. To address these concerns, this project pursues the potential of repair and maintenance as a design alternative for the camp, allowing it to adapt and accommodate varying influxes of people. Through examination of the camp from the architectural to urban scale, this research aims to shed light on how the space of a refugee camp intertwines with the urban fabric by revealing its perception and evolution, typology, and relationship to the existing city.