Between Borders: How Architecture Shapes the Lives of the Displaced

Evra Haspolat
Nov 25
10 min read

Writer: Evra Haspolat

Living beings have a connection to the place in which they were born and raised. For humans, however, this bond is shaped not only by geography but by social and physical environments that impact our development. Therefore, as a phenomenon, space affects almost everything about a society and the psychological state of the individual. Migration or spatial change disrupts the bond we have with our environment. By migrating, people aren’t just displaced; they lose everything about the space to which they have a sense of belonging. This loss brings its own psychological and cultural consequences with it. Additionally, oftentimes, the way that displaced people are treated in their new place, or the conditions that they are expected to survive, does not help at all. This article will examine how architectural designs are implemented in exclusionary and/or unethical ways, and the psychological impact that architectural designs can have, particularly for immigrants and displaced people.

1.1 Displacement as a Human Condition

According to IOM, displacement is “the movement of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters.” (Migration Data Portal, 2024)

Displacement is a phenomenon that has been repeated for various reasons in history. Nowadays, we can categorize these reasons.

Conflict-Induced Displacement

Conflict-induced displacement is often labeled as human-induced. It is used for cases where people are forced to flee their homeland due to wars, civil wars, ethnic conflicts, terrorist incidents, or oppression by authoritarian regimes (Migration Data Portal, 2024).

Climate(Disaster)-Induced Displacement

Disaster-induced displacement is often rooted in natural causes. Examples of these natural causes are droughts, floods, wildfires, and sea level rise, which cause people to lose their livelihoods and be displaced. Climate-related migration is predicted to increase significantly in the coming years (Migration Data Portal, 2024).

It is worth noting that when examining forced or involuntary migration, a distinction is often made between conflict-induced and disaster-induced displacement; however, drawing the line between conflict and disaster-induced displacement can be difficult, as natural causes can create conflict and human-induced causes can create disasters.

Development-Induced Displacement

Because of huge development projects such as dams, highways, and mining, about 15 million people every year are forced to leave their homes to make way. In most developing countries, such projects have been noted to increase ecological and social vulnerability, thus leaving the affected people (particularly the poor) displaced, disempowered, and destitute (Aboda et al., 2019).

However, migrations based on reasons are not the only types of migration. Migration is also divided according to the duration of stay.

Temporary & Permanent Exile:

In some cases, people are displaced in such a way that they can never return to their former homes. In this case, displacement becomes permanent exile. This involves both physical displacement and cultural rupture (UNHCR, 2024).

Another type of migration is temporary exile, where people are temporarily settled in camps following disasters or short-term conflicts. These settlements are considered "temporary," but in many cases, this temporary period lasts for years (UNHCR, 2024).

Temporary and permanent migration directly impacts the form of architectural designs. There are significant differences between temporary solutions and long-term living spaces. Even when temporary settlements become permanent over time, inadequate infrastructure can lead to living conditions that violate human rights.

1.2 Global Scale of the Issue

According to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), 123.2 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide at the end of 2024 as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, or events seriously disturbing public order. Meaning 1 out of 67 people on earth are displaced. This also shows that displacement nearly doubled in the last decade. According to the same UNHCR report, 42.7 million of them were refugees. 73 percent of the world’s refugees and other people in need of international protection were hosted by low- and middle-income countries, which leads to worsening of the sheltering conditions. The report also shows that 73.5 million out of the 123.2 million were IDPs (internally displaced people). IDPs have been forced to flee their homes by conflict, violence, persecution, or disasters; however, unlike refugees, they remain within their own country. Additionally, most of these displaced people reside in refugee camps, temporary settlements, or the outskirts of the city that lack adequate infrastructure. Therefore, displacement is no longer just a humanitarian aid issue; it has become a crisis that directly concerns architecture, urban planning, environmental ethics, and social justice (UNHCR Global Trends 2024 Report, 2024).

2) Spatial Needs and Design Responses

Although forcibly displaced people make up the majority of the displaced people, many lost their homes because of natural disasters, and others have become homeless for various reasons. In emergencies, it is fundamental to provide shelter to the homeless as a part of the life-saving responsibilities, so that the forcibly displaced people can have a safe and healthy living environment protected from the weather conditions and a place with privacy, dignity, comfort, and emotional security. We can take away that a shelter is not just bricks and a roof, or a tent, but a way to protect those displaced (UNHCR, 2025).

Emergency shelter is defined as temporary housing solutions, such as tents and shelter kits, provided to ensure people’s physical and mental well-being, preserve human dignity, and prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation. There are multiple types of emergency shelters depending on factors like different materials, different purposes, contexts they are being used in, etc., and each type of emergency shelter has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some examples of types of emergency shelters are: family tents, plastic sheeting, shelter kits, prefabricated shelters, and containers (UNHCR, 2025).

But, as aforementioned, shelters are made to be temporary solutions. However, it has been proven that refugees spend a minimum of 5 years in these camps. Some records even mention that 2 generations may spend their lives in these inhumane conditions of camps. All these problems force a review of the organization of refugee camps from an architectural point of view. When structures like containers and tents, which are designed to be temporary, transition to permanent structures over time, they lack privacy, social spaces, green spaces, or shared living practices. Beyond survival, people also need to build a life, develop neighborly relationships, send their children to school, and build a "community." Temporary shelters do not meet this need. This is because these structures are shelters rather than "living spaces." Thus, refugees are kept in a spatial crisis (Ammoun & Uzunoğlu, 2020).

One of the most well-known examples of this situation is the Zaatari Camp in Jordan. Za'atari refugee camp, which opened in 2012 and currently hosts 80,000 people, has become a symbol of the long-running Syrian refugee crisis. The tents that provided a temporary roof in the initial weeks and months have since been replaced by thousands of metal shelters. Because the shelters’ lifespan is six to eight years, many of these shelters are in urgent need of repair. According to a recent assessment, the walls, floors, and ceilings of more than 70% of the shelters are now considered substandard. Furthermore, as Jordan is considered the second most water-scarce country in the world, a recent survey found that even though all shelters in the camp, located in the arid northeast of the country, are connected to the water network, 30% of households in Za'atari report that their water supply is insufficient to meet all their needs (Carlisle, 2022).

3) Architecture’s Effect on Psychology

Architecture goes well beyond mere structural design. Architecture has the power to exclude people as much as it has to include them. For the last couple of years, excluding architecture has been on the rise. Benches that prevent homeless people from lying down or sharp protrusions placed under bridges or in suitable areas to make shelter impossible, irrigation systems operated intentionally at night, sidewalks that prevent prolonged sitting, and fencing or nailing open areas suitable for sleeping or sitting are all examples of exclusionary architecture directed against homeless people. Exclusionary architecture can achieve its purpose, affecting people psychologically as well (Özmakas & Yıldırım, 2020).

However, the impact of exclusionary architecture extends far beyond the physical. It affects people psychologically by subtly making people feel that they are unwanted or unworthy of space. Environmental psychology reveals that our built environment plays a crucial role in shaping our psychological well-being and behavior. Every architectural decision, from the interaction of light and color to the influence of materials and spatial layout, contributes to our psychological experience of a place. When these decisions are made without empathy, they can reinforce feelings of isolation, alienation, and trauma among displaced individuals (Salam, 2020).

1. Space and Light

Natural light is crucial in determining how we perceive a space. Well-lit spaces with natural sunlight generally feel more inviting and less restrictive, improving our mood and increasing productivity, which positively impacts mental health. On the other hand, dimly lit environments can contribute to sadness and fatigue. Therefore, the lack of natural light in containers because of their small windows may make displaced people experience lower moods (Veenstra, 2024).

2. Color Psychology

Colors used in architectural design can significantly influence mood and behavior. Warm colors such as red and orange are known for their stimulating effects, while cool colors like blue and green can create a sense of calm. Using color consciously and choosing the right color scheme for different spaces can influence the psychological atmosphere and how people feel and behave. However, in shelters like tents and containers, we often see monochrome color schemes with white and gray. This can make displaced people feel psychologically distressed, both because they can't personalize their personal spaces and because white and gray can add a coldness to the structure (Veenstra, 2024).

3. Spatial Organization and Perception

The organization of a space affects how we interact with the structure. Open floor plans generally convey a sense of freedom and comfort, while more enclosed designs can enhance feelings of security and privacy. Effective architectural design enhances comfort and usability by considering human scale and movement, which in turn influences mood and behavior. However, most shelters allow for 4 square meters of space per person, and because there are no divisions, the layout is just a mess, creating a complex and overwhelming environment (Veenstra, 2024).

4. Biophilic Design

It focuses on integrating natural elements into architectural spaces. Using elements such as indoor plants, natural materials, and landscapes can reduce stress and enhance well-being. This design approach taps into our psychological need for natural environments to promote relaxation and healing. However, because displaced people usually reside in inhumane conditions, biophilic designs are often uncommon (Veenstra, 2024).

5. Materials

The materials used in construction also play a significant role in psychological well-being. While natural materials like wood and stone often evoke feelings of warmth and comfort, synthetic materials can feel impersonal or cold. The materials used in shelters are not only synthetic but also often durable and of poor quality (Veenstra, 2024).

Understanding and applying these principles to shelters can enable us to design spaces that positively impact the mental health of immigrants, help foster social connections, and provide environments where individuals feel content, productive, and at ease. The architects must design a space that meets the needs of the community, with all aspects such as moral, physical, and cultural (Veenstra, 2024).

The absence of certain design elements mentioned above, which psychologically elevate our mood, and the inability of these people to personalize their shelters, contribute to the loss of the sense of "home" in temporary shelters. These shelters lack privacy, lack social spaces, and lack elements familiar to refugees from their own culture. People staying in these shelters become excluded and lack a sense of belonging. However, if architects design more inclusive structures (rather than plain white, closed containers or tents) that allow light, have color palettes that elevate the residents' moods, and are perhaps adaptable to other cultures, physical spaces can play a role in the psychological healing of these displaced and likely psychologically disrupted people.

4) Cultural Identity and Belonging Through Space

Displacement not only removes people from a physical space but also disconnects them from the cultural practices of the place they come from.

Architecture plays a crucial role in maintaining cultural continuity. For displaced communities, the absence of culturally familiar architectural elements, such as kitchens designed according to traditional cooking methods or even their local building materials, can intensify feelings of disorientation and alienation.

Ultimately, refugee camps are places where everything appears similar, repetitive, and modular, a result of their orderly and hierarchical layout. This creates the assumption that all refugees are the same, and a sense of collective identity emerges. This is a true notion, but it is not entirely accurate. These camps accommodate people from all cultural backgrounds and economic classes (Dalal, 2017).

The shelters in many refugee camps, however, are standardized, prefabricated, and culturally neutral (or Westernized) structures, ignoring the unique spatial traditions and daily life practices of the communities they host. This erasure of cultural context in architecture not only creates discomfort but also contributes to the loss of cultural identity (Dalal, 2017).

But architecture can also provide a foundation for displaced people to begin rebuilding their identities and routines. When designed with empathy and flexibility, buildings allow residents to personalize their surroundings, recreate their routines, and connect with their new environment.

This way, people with diverse cultures and traditions can personalize their accommodations, transforming a camp of prefabricated containers or tents painted white into a vibrant cultural mosaic. This also instills a sense of belonging (Dalal, 2017).

Another essential step in preserving cultural identity is the establishment of shared spaces, such as community kitchens, places of worship, schools, storytelling spaces, or cultural centers. Space for human interaction is one of the primary aspects of human culture. Without such spaces, displaced communities cannot practice rituals, share stories, or celebrate together; these are essential elements of cultural survival (Adebayo et al., 2013).

Conclusion

In conclusion, architecture plays a crucial role in affecting our lives. It can be inclusive or exclusive, depending on whether it is designed with empathy and thought. Refugees, immigrants, and displaced people are forced to stay in emergency shelters for multiple years, although the camps and shelters are made to accommodate only for short periods of time. This fact brings many difficulties, such as displaced people living in inhumane conditions, feeling isolated, disoriented, and alienated. The way that the camps are designed in a grid system, and they consist of similar and repetitive neutralised shelters, can lead to the loss of cultural identity amongst residents. Since architecture and our environment can affect us so much both physically and psychologically, when designing the places that thousands of displaced people are expected to start a brand new and social life, architects should have a more empathetic approach.