States of Permanent Impermanence, on Agency, Activism and ArchitectureStates of Permanent Impermanence, on Agency, Activism and Architecture

The refugee crisis has led many architects to question and even doubt the role their profession can play in these circumstances. 'States of Permanent Impermanence' presents three architects with a very clear view on this, based on personal experience of working with refugees and/or in refugee camps: Grainne Hassett, Merve Bedir and Alison Killing.

Increasingly, the so-called 'impermanent' condition of being a refugee is becoming permanent. The average lifespan of a refugee 'camp' is now more than 17 years. Older camps like Dadaab in Kenya and Al Zataari in Jordan have become, in effect, full-blown cities, and need to be organised and supported accordingly. At the same time, the recent devastation of Calais camp, including structures built by architects, demonstrates the fragile quality of refugee shelter. Refugees living in these tenuous conditions are quite capable of creating viable urban communities, with vital economies and vibrant public life, themselves, provided they are granted agency, a minimum of support and some basic infrastructure (water, sewage, electricity). International refugee agencies are slowly realising they need to take on a new role of facilitator, and a longer-term perspective.

The refugee crisis has led many architects to question and even doubt the role their profession can play in these circumstances. 'States of Permanent Impermanence' presents three architects with a very clear view on this, based on personal experience of working with refugees and/or in refugee camps: Grainne Hassett, Merve Bedir and Alison Killing.

Organised by the ROAM foundation in collaboration with Het Nieuwe Instituut

See also: Sean Anderson lecture on Insecurities: Tracing Displacement and Shelter