Dignity through Design: The Importance of Architecture in Refugee Camps | Dima Abu-Aridah | TEDxPSU
In this powerful talk, Dima Abu-Aridah, an architect, urban planner, and researcher, shares her personal journey and deep insights into the refugee experience, focusing on life in Zaatari Camp in Jordan. Drawing from her Palestinian heritage and her extensive research, Dima highlights the challenges refugees face, including restrictions on movement, limited resources, and the emotional toll of displacement. She emphasizes the resilience of refugees, showcasing how they creatively adapt their living spaces to reflect cultural and social needs. Through her work on "spatial (re)production," Dima advocates for designing refugee settlements that empower displaced people, fostering autonomy and dignity. This talk calls for a shift in how we view and design refugee camps, aiming for solutions that honor the humanity and agency of those affected by displacement. Dima Abu-Aridah is a Jordanian architect and a doctoral candidate at Penn State's Stuckeman School of Architecture. Recognized for her research on the design and spatial dynamics of refugee camps, Dima's work focuses on how displaced individuals reshape their environments to foster a sense of community and belonging. Her PhD dissertation, "Who Designs the Camp? The Spatial Reproduction of Refugee Camps," explores the interplay between spatial planning of camp spaces and the human ingenuity of refugees in adapting these spaces. Dima has been honored with Penn State’s Graduate School’s Alumni Association Dissertation Award in 2023 and the Graduate Student International Research Award in 2024 for her innovative contributions to understanding the intersection of design and displacement. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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