Capernaum

Studio Pierandrea Angius

Tutors Angel Tenorio, Anna Kondrashova

Team Pooja Lale, Rui Wang, Xinyi Wang

By examining the intersection of climate change, conflict, and migration through the lens of architectural design, this thesis addresses the urgent needs of displaced communities. By exploring how architecture can serve for immediate relief and long-term resilience, our aim is to redefine the role of design in responding to environmental and political crises. Approximately 130 million people in 2024 were displaced globally, with 48% internally displaced and 25% classified as refugees. Due to the dual crises of climate change and conflict, millions have been forced to seek refuge in unstable and inhospitable conditions. Sudan, a country deeply impacted by intersecting crises, serves as the primary research site, with a key aspect the direct collaboration with refugees, prioritizing their needs and lived experiences. This human-centred approach ensured to address the practical and emotional dimensions of displacement. The primary architectural intervention involves an emergency transition shelter designed with affordability, efficiency, and sustainability. Conceived as lightweight and cost-effective, the shelters enable easy transport and rapid assembly. Time efficiency in construction means that shelters can be provided promptly in crisis. The design emphasizes sustainability by integrating the circular economy and material reuse. This research reinterprets mobility through human agency, where architecture gains purpose through the movement.  Migration is more than a powerful inspiration - a collective journey - reshaping landscapes, communities, and spaces. The designs are adaptable, dynamic evolving spaces. Modular and flexible components allow for scalability and personalization, fostering a sense of ownership and stability. Through its focus on the interplay of climate change, conflict, and migration, we advocate for both responsive and transformative approach. By emphasizing the experiences of refugees, the principles of a circular economy, adaptability and sustainability, we aspire to redefine how architecture engages with the complexities of displacement, particularly in regions like Sudan where these challenges converge most acutely.