Improvisational Lines: The Architecture of an Informal Syrian Refugee Settlement

The thesis project responds to Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon; in particular the illegal settlements that have been rapidly multiplying due to massive migration of the displaced population. The research will examine the cultural and social effects of life in exile in order to understand the current reality of the refugee community. The project will be articulated around the notions of temporality and improvised methodologies. The conception process will take into consideration the unpredictability of circumstances, as well as the eventuality of the refugees going back home. The process will also favor a do-it-yourself method as a response to the frequent motion of the refugee population. The research will try to answer the following questions: What are the architectural values of a clandestine settlement? What are the factors that define it? How can a temporal structure instill stability and provide a sense of belonging?