A child waving from a rooftop in Irbid Refugee Camp, Jordan, 2026. © Zaineh Ghanayem.
This research investigates how refugee camps in Jordan have evolved from temporary shelters into permanent urban settlements, revealing the relationship between architecture, displacement, and belonging. Over the past seven decades, Jordan has hosted refugees from Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Sudan. Many camps, once defined by emergency planning and humanitarian relief, have evolved into dense, self-built neighborhoods that now blend seamlessly with Jordan’s urban fabric.
The images, drawings, and models developed for this study will culminate in an exhibition connecting architectural documentation with lived narratives, contributing to broader discussions on displacement, informality, and urban resilience. These conversations will complement spatial documentation, grounding architectural analysis in lived experience.
Immigrants and refugees are integral to Jordan’s cultural and economic life, shaping its cities and redefining what belonging means in an urban context. Their contributions demonstrate how resilience and community can generate new urban forms despite limited resources. Observing how these communities create permanence out of transience will inform design lessons about density, adaptability, and collective living.
RELATED EVENTS
Saturday, November 14, 2026, 5–7PM
Opening reception. Free and no need to RSVP.
Saturday, December 5, 2026, 5–7PM
Closing reception. Free and no need to RSVP.
A view of Zarqa Refugee Camp and its surrounding neighborhoods, Jordan, 2026. © Zaineh Ghanayem.
Between homes in Wehdat Refugee Camp, Jordan, 2026. © Zaineh Ghanayem.
Al-Hussein Refugee Camp, with the surrounding city in the background, Jordan, 2026. © Zaineh Ghanayem.
Building façade in Zarqa Refugee Camp showing layers of growth over time, Jordan, 2026. © Zaineh Ghanayem.
A narrow street in Zarqa Refugee Camp with a parked car, Jordan, 2026. © Zaineh Ghanayem.
SUPPORT
Temporary Permanence: The Urbanization of Jordan’s Refugee Camps has been funded through the AIA Chicago Foundation 2025 Martin Roche Travel Scholarship and MAS Context.
