a home for the stateless

Project idea

The idea behind the project is to investigate a new typology for the stateless (refugee). Is there a way that a facility/building can act as a metaphorical welcoming door for those entering the country and seeking a new home. Could this building imitate the feeling of "home" as the refugees first point of arrival.

Project description

The project was undertaken to establish in order to document the refugee crisis in Pretoria, South Africa. Currently there are an influx of Africans flooding to South Africa with Pretoria's refugee center as the main offices. The current infrastructure cannot handle the amount of people. The project aims to introduce a new facility in the center of the city and propose a new system in the way refugees are processed in the system. The building will also house an embasy for the stateless and become the new HQ for the UN refugee center in Southern Africa.

Technical information

The project followed standard column and beam structure with a double skin facade for solar control. The southern facade has a narrow air gap between the glazing and steel mesh where the norther facade allows for balcony spaces between the two membranes to create an additional overhang for solar control.