Healing through design; a trauma informed design approach to permanent refugee housing

Abstract

Since September 2023, more than 120,000 Armenians have been forcefully displaced from their homes in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh) as a result of ethnic cleansing. While this is a specific example, it happens frequently across the globe, resulting in forced displacement and displacement trauma. That is why crisis architecture and sustainable housing solutions that foster mental and physical well-being are needed. In this thesis, the aim is to design a permanent housing project in Dilijan, Tavush province, Armenia, that incorporates trauma-informed design principles, accessibility, sustainable building methods, and Armenian vernacular housing architecture to find answers and a design solution to the following research question: How can permanent refugee housing be designed to promote recovery from trauma? How can vernacular housing architecture contribute to designing a sense of safety, familiarity, and cultural identity in refugee housing? How can vernacular construction techniques and materials be used to enhance sustainability and durability? The research methods include a combination of literature research on trauma-informed design principles, Armenian vernacular housing architecture, traditional building methods and materials, reviews on existing refugee settlements, and interviews with displaced individuals from Artsakh. As a result, the project offers a site-specific permanent housing solution that addresses the physical and emotional needs of displaced individuals, creating a model for future refugee housing initiatives that can be constructed sustainably