GROUP STAGE RESEARCH & ANALYSIS
Design for Displacement
MArch 5th Year Architecture Studio
Studio Tutor: Laurence Wood
2025-2026
University of Dundee
Eilidh Bauchop
Lewis Duncan
Daniel Ellington
Miruna Georgescu
Tara Hart
Bota Issatayeva
Hussein Khalil
Abdu Mahdi
Tom Robertson
Bridget Schneider
Ryan Smith
Luca Sode
Josie Strachan
ARCHITECTURE
CAN PREPARE.
DESIGN 4
DISPLACEMENT
of DISPLACEMENT · of PREPAREDNESS · of GOVERNANCE · of EDUCATION · of LAND MANAGEMENT · of JUSTICE · of COMMUNITY BUILDING · of INDUSTRY ·
LOOK LIKE?
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE
This is our studio's guiding question, informed by personal interest and unit aims.
Our aim is to investigate systems which can dissolve the impact of inevitable disasters in the future. Disasters can occur at all scales, from inequitable healthcare systems to raging wildfires.
We have adopted the approach that "there are no natural disasters" from the UN to assert that regardless of the cause, life-threatening disasters are the consequences of our lack of preparedness and recognition of vulnerabilities.
UNIT AIMS
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
To understand how AI is altering the foundational systems of society.
1
To critically examine the implications of centralized and decentralized models.
DISTRIBUTION MODELS
2
To develop speculative and actionable architectural responses for vulnerable populations.
ARCHITECTURAL RESPONSES
3
To work across architectural, technological, and social scales.
WORK ACROSS SCALES
4
WHAT IS
DESIGN FOR DISPLACEMENT?
Architecture’s involvement with displacement is most commonly associated with post-disaster images of war or extreme weather events, where people are forced to flee their homes and livelihoods. In response, we design emergency shelters and infrastructure as a form of humanitarian aid.
But what if we look at it from a broader perspective? A wide range of factors contribute to displacement around the world. By seeing these factors as outcomes of a complex network of interconnected systems, we can investigate the role architects might play in addressing the forces that lead to displacement.
This unit explores several of these systems including healthcare, infrastructure, climate, and education, across various scales. A strong strategy within one system can help prevent displacement, but a cohesive strategy across multiple systems is more resilient and sustainable.
The core position of our unit is that proactive strategies, based on thorough analysis of current systems are the best way to address current and potential future vulnerabilities. This informs our architectural approach, shaping how and what we build.
A Proactive Strategy vs a Reactive Strategy
"Every £1 invested in proactive healthcare measures in Scotland, is the equivalent of £32 being spent
reacting to the problem."
- Tim Zijlstra, NHS Tayside, 2025
Design for Displacement 1
2022 - 2023
Design for Displacement 2
2023 - 2024
PAST STUDIOS
In the past this studio unit has explored a wide variety of approaches to pre and post disaster design, from rebuilding cities, modernising systems, and preparedness strategies. Their work has focused on key disaster-prone regions like the Middle East and South-East Asia.
MOVING FROM BRIEF TO MACRO
ANALYSIS
This year we decided to shift our focus towards non-traditional displacement conditions to demonstrate that forced movements can occur in all contexts and scales - whether it is five people on a remote Hebridean island moving to the mainland to access healthcare or a large wildfire that destroys the homes of an entire Portuguese community.
We also wanted to understand how methods for dealing with displacement can be integrated into existing and improved systems. We tackled this challenge by starting with our four unit aims. For each one, we explored relevant macro level issues including economics, governance, climate, and displacement. This subsequently led us to our meso level.
1.
To understand how AI is altering the foundational systems of society.
To critically examine the implications of centralised and decentralised models.
To develop speculative and actionable architectural responses for vulnerable populations.
To work across architectural, technological and social scales.
2.
3.
UNIT AIMS
4.
OUR PROMETHEAN MOMENT
This year, our studio agenda isn’t defined by a singular geographical context or disaster, such as a typhoon, earthquake, or war.
On all levels, our society is navigating through a “Promethean Moment” - the rapid development and widespread use of AI. This will inevitably impact systems and architectural space just as the assembly line influenced Le Corbusier's Domino House as well as the modernist movement that followed.
This unit will explore how AI reshapes core infrastructure, social life, & economies, and investigates the spatial implications of systems that integrate or resist technological innovation, framed through preparedness strategies.
This is being explored alongside the wider context of climate change and growing worldwide political instability.
MESO SITE LOCATIONS
To explore these aspects, we have chosen Scotland and Portugal as ideal locations that represent similarly developed northern and southern European countries respectively. Through this lens we can explore two contrasting regions that face distinct issues and challenges using a shared core methodology.
OUR GUIDING
QUESTION
GOVERNANCE
HEALTHCARE
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF LAND MANAGEMENT LOOK LIKE?
COMMUNITY
EDUCATION
CLIMATE PREPAREDNESS
This is our studio's guiding question, informed by personal interest and unit aims.
Our aim is to investigate systems which can dissolve the impact of inevitable disasters in the future. Disasters can occur at all scales from inequitable healthcare to wildfires. We have adopded the approach that 'there are no natural disasters', from the UN to assert that regardless of cause, disasters are the consequences of our lack of preparedness and recognition of vulnerabilities.
This 6-page master diagram illustrates our group stage process as we moved between scales of research & analysis
This 6-page master diagram illustrates our group stage process as we moved between scales of research & analysis
Master Diagram
Click on a page to view larger
This 6-page master diagram illustrates our group stage process as we moved between scales of research & analysis
STUDIO UNIT INTRODUCTORY
VIDEO
This video introduces the broader context of current global issues and how it has framed the outlook of this year's Design for Displacement studio.
WHY A WEBSITE?
For our unit’s presentation, we chose to move away from a traditional pin-up and design booklet format, instead, showcasing our work through an interactive website and introductory video.
This approach builds off our ‘fishbowl analogy,’ where different topics, such as climate, AI, or displacement are imagined as small fish swimming freely in a large fishbowl.
Rather than following a linear or chronological structure, like an essay or printed booklet, our digital format encourages viewers to reach into the 'bowl’ and select which fish, or topic, they want to explore.
This reflects the nature of our research, where these themes coexist, overlap, and influence one another in complex and non-linear ways. This website’s design allows for immersive, self-directed navigation, enabling each viewer to curate their own path through our work.
CLICK A SCALE OF RESEARCH TO LEARN MORE
GROUP STAGE RESEARCH & ANALYSIS
Design for Displacement
MArch 5th Year Architecture Studio
Studio Tutor: Laurence Wood
2025-2026
University of Dundee
Hussein Khalil
Abdu Mahdi
Tom Robertson
Bridget Schneider
Ryan Smith
Luca Sode
Josie Strachan
Eilidh Bauchop
Lewis Duncan
Daniel Ellington
Miruna Georgescu
Tara Hart
Bota Issatayeva