A RESEARCH initiative led by the University of Dundee on refugee camp environments has earned the esteemed George Stephenson Medal from the Institution of Civil Engineers.
The award will be presented to Professor Husam AlWaer, chair of urban design at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD), in a ceremony in London this October.
Professor AlWaer’s research highlights how refugees show resilience and creativity to foster a sense of community and improved living conditions.
It explores the dynamic transformations in Al Za’atari, the largest Syrian refugee camp.
The camp, which is home to around 82,000 people and spans just 6 square kilometres, was modified by the refugees themselves.
The site has been transformed from a temporary military-style camp into a thriving community with private courtyards, high streets and businesses.
Refugees have restructured their living spaces to create more complex housing clusters, which have become indefinite.
Professor AlWaer said: “Refugees transferred the camp into a less formal settlement through acts of collectivism, where camp inhabitants seek to help each other as partners in adversity.”
The camp now features over 3,500 shops, 58 community centres, two hospitals, nine healthcare centres, and 120 community health volunteers.
Around 21,900 children are educated by UNICEF and the Ministry of Education across 32 schools.
Despite its crowded conditions, with a population five times its capacity, Al Za’atari supports a vibrant community life.
Professor AlWaer noted it is “critical” that refugee camps are recognised as “profound and long-lasting social experiments”.
He said: “Reconstructions which took place have been described as a form of psychotherapy, an attempt to quell fears and anxiety by reconstructing a place similar to their former social and physical environment, where they felt secure and comfortable.”
This is the fourth recognition Professor AlWaer has received from the Institution of Civil Engineers over eight years, underscoring his influence in urban design and planning.
The George Stephenson Medal judging panel praised the research for its significant contribution to urban design and planning.
The panel stated: “The paper makes a significant contribution to the field, challenging existing theories and providing new insights.”
