In a world of rapidly rising numbers of forcibly displaced people, most refugee/IDP camps are designed as short-term shelter facility when no alternative is available. However, the average time a United Nations (UN) planned refugee camp functions, is seventeen years. This temporal disparity is not necessarily a problem on its own, however during these protracted situations the need for normalcy, perspective and especially dignity grows.
Besides a reduced level of livability, a lack of dignity also leads to both physical and psychological health issues. This leads to the main aim of this project, namely, to enhance dignity in planned camps. Taking the mandate of the UNHCR into account, the focus will be on UNHCR planned refugee camps. Based on a literature review conducted in the theoretical framework, the premise of this graduation project is that dignity is positively influenced by self-determination, which in turn is enhanced by spatial self-determination and (informal) economic activity in a situation where first needs (e.g. food, water, shelter) are met. This results in the main research question: “How can a modular framework of interventions enhance a sense of spatial self-determination and foster (informal) economic activity in UNHCR planned refugee camps while maintaining a non-permanent character and remaining adaptable to scale changes?”. This question will be answered through eight sub-questions that reflect the different phases of the iterative ‘analysis-design process’ of this project. In this process four methods will be used to answer these questions by providing insight in the involved concepts, current practices and how (informal) economic activity and/or spatial self-determination is improved in other (urban) contexts. These methods are: a literature review, a best case review, interviewing and a multiple case study (using the Syrian Conflict as umbrella case).

The final product of this graduation project will consist of two perspectives, a flow-related perspective and a spatial design perspective. With regard to the flow-perspective, a guiding principle for each UNHCR camp construction phase to enhance foremost (informal) economic activity and to a lesser extend spatial self-determination is presented. Besides, a strategy consisting of multiple modular interventions on how to implement each of them is included, using Qushtapa Refugee Camp as test-case. With regard to the spatial perspective, three frameworks of design-principles are given. Each framework enhances (informal) economic activity and/or spatial self-determination in the context of a UNHCR planned refugee camp on a specific scale (communal scale, block/sector scale and camp/settlement scale). Regarding all three frameworks, a design is made in Qushtapa Refugee Camp, including a strategy on how to implement them throughout the standard UNHCR phases, to test and illustrate the design principles. Both perspectives have a modular nature. However, they also have multiple interfaces and can be integrated into one another.

In general, all proposed interventions are deemed realistic by an expert panel and regarding three different topics, material wise, labor wise and with regard to the UNHCR-Mandate and UNHCR standards. Last, since the UNHCR strives to provide the same ‘service’ everywhere, the proposed principles and designs, may also be applicable in other cases than cases relating to the Syrian conflict.