Safe spaces in crisis contexts
A striking and persistent part of crisis response is that the situation is constantly changing. The fluctuating circumstances experienced in Europe in 2015 and the consequential shifting asylum policies of the EU was not a one-time occurrence. The need for finding rapid solutions for immediate accommodation for many people in a safe and dignified way, will only increase in the coming years.
Based on the need for new strategies, solutions, and tools, the In Transit 1 Studio explored the relationship between emergency interventions and long-term planning strategies. All projects are built around the case of Greece, a country that for many years now has been on the frontline of the influx of people in need of protection, seeking sanctuary in Europe.
The In Transit 1 Studio is showcasing the potential for multi- and after use by transforming buildings accommodating people in transit; proposing medium- and long-term urban planning strategies for creating livable and sustainable environments for new arrivals and their host communities; and presenting common spaces for use in extraordinary situations.
The studio focused on: the social dimension of physical planning and design; programmatic innovation; the importance of offering a sense of normality in extreme situations; and to showcase why the architecture of transitional spaces is important in order to create dignified temporary living arrangements.