Jaradat, S and Beunders, N (2023) Participatory design in refugee camps: Ethnographic case studies from Greece. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 30(3), pp. 1080-1097. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: Architectural management and construction practices have not been widely explored in refugee camps which have been growing exponentially around the world. Previous research largely focused on the negativity surrounding living in refugee camps and mostly ignored the input of refugees. This study explores the possibilities of involving refugees in architectural design and construction decisions in the camps. Design/methodology/approach: This research adopts a qualitative interpretive research approach and employs exploratory ethnographic methods. Participatory design (PD) principles are applied to design and construct community place projects in two refugee camps in Greece. Findings: The findings demonstrate that, despite the technical and institutional challenges of employing PD approaches in refugee camps, there are observed positive impacts on the wellbeing of refugees and impacts on the hosting communities. Practical implications: This paper contests the negativity surrounding refugee camps and has implications on research, practice and society as well as a positive impact on NGO organisations, policy-makers and other stakeholders involved in the governance of refugee camps. Originality/value: This paper addresses a critical issue concerning how to include refugees in the design, implementation and maintenance of refugee camps to improve their well-being and fight the feeling of “otherness” for both refugees and host communities. This study extends research on refugee camps by collaborating with refugees to improve their lives within the camps. This research contributes to architectural management and construction studies by providing practical recommendations related to PD methods in new contexts.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | architectural management; construction; ethnography; participatory design; positive experience; refugee camps |
| Index terms: | society, architectural management, Greece, participatory design, methodology, well-being, architectural design, critical issue, governance, case study, ethnography, refugee, implementation |
| Subjects: | demography, communities and social development, research methods, design practice, practice management, Geography, qualitative and interpretive research, contractual arrangements, mental health and wellbeing, business, risk assessment, data collection methods, design methods |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Governance, Procurement, Urban Studies, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here