Shadow Sites

Abstract

As war and terror seem to have no ending and more cities are destroyed and families displaced, basic necessities that have been provided for the refugees are not enough, and the lost heritage cannot be ignored. The motivation for this project arose from this notion to carry on the rich historic and cultural elements of the Middle East to educate the new generations who have only heard stories, and for whom such architecture has remained a beautiful mystery. The ongoing Syrian crisis continues to pose a constant threat and long-term challenge to the region. The prolonged Syrian conflict has accelerated the decline of security and stability in the region through warfare, forced displacement, as well as destruction of infrastructure on a large scale. The Al-Za’atari refugee camp was borne out of necessity and was meant to be a temporary solution; 8 years later the population is at 76,892 refugees (as of June, 2019).1 With there being no indication of returning to their own country, many must now call this home. Part of this thesis explores the definition of a ‘city’ and its creation. Historically, camps have become the very cities we are living in now. Will these refugee camps stay temporary or will they too become the cities of tomorrow? Geometry has been an artistic tool that has been adapted for centuries and is most evident in the Middle East where it has been engraved into its identity. This thesis explores ways to change the face and pattern of the Al-Za’atari camp by using the geometric guidelines in both freehand and measured drawing techniques. This design project seeks to create a central point in the Al-Za’atari refugee camp based on historical geometries that be a mecca to unify the Syrian refugees and be a reminder of their rich historic roots. This project is to take a speculative approach where an alternative planning method is to be explored to create a renewed sense of identity in the camp.