While working on a canopy system suggested by UNHCR for the poor-quality, locally built shelters, it emerged that the canopy cover was less important than the absence of private external living spaces and the alienating geometry of the shelters’ arrangement. So a veranda to be used in combination with the canopy was conceived, and a kit of components assembled, aimed at improving refugees’ conditions beyond solely climatic concerns. Basic materials such as agricultural fabric, water pipes, used tires, ropes and metal hooks were sufficient to create shaded external spaces arranged in clusters rather than grids. The study produced prototypes that were not implemented due to logistic and economic constraints.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture