Refugee camp streets: Unraveling lived space and community empowerment - a comparative case study analysis

Daradkeh, Luma 2023. Refugee camp streets: Unraveling lived space and community empowerment - a comparative case study analysis. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This thesis investigates the complex interplay between the social production of space and community empowerment in refugee camps street, focusing on three case studies: Baqaa and Jerash camps, and Zaatari camp in Jordan. The primary objective of this research is to shift the understanding of the processes of social production of space in refugee camps' streets. The study examines the dynamic relationship between social production processes, community empowerment, and refugee camp lived space in depth through a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative methods with design research tools. This is achieved through the comprehensive processing of the data from in-depth interviews, and field notes into axonometric drawings generating new knowledge. The findings reveal that the streets within the refugee camps play a crucial role in the social production of space and the formation of community empowerment. Over time, the processes of social production of space shape the living experience through the cognitive, structural, and financial levels of lived space. The study also revealed that refugees went through three phases of living experience, in each phase the interconnected three levels operated differently and produced community empowerment differently. Furthermore, it showed that Phase 2 facilitated the best social production processes and resulted in the highest levels of community empowerment among the other phases. Furthermore, this thesis reveals the critical concept of "Disruption of spatiality" as an outcome of Phase 3; the overcrowding phase and its impact on social-spatial relationships within the streets of the camps. This study advances the understanding of the complex relationship between space, community empowerment, and social production processes in refugee camps. This contributes valuable insights to decision-makers, planners, and practitioners involved in refugee camp planning and management. It advocates for a more integrated approach that addresses the unique needs and aspirations of refugees, creating empowering living spaces.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Architecture
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	1 March 2024
Last Modified:	08 Mar 2024 12:19
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/166747

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