How can community architects build socially resilient refugee camps? Lessons from the Office of Displaced Designers in Lesvos, Greece

Purpose This paper explores social resilience through the lenses of migration. It specifically studies role community architects in building socially resilient refugee camps which are human settlements characterized by a transient and heterogeneous with unique vulnerabilities. These managed exceptional governance arrangements between hegemonic counter-hegemonic humanitarian organizations. Design/methodology/approach Empirical evidences drawn from Office Displaced Designers (ODD), design-focused creative integration organization active on Lesvos island. During one-month ethnographic research ODD, empirical data were harvested an extensive review project archive materials including transcripts audio files interviews participants collaborators conducted architectural drawings teaching materials, photo video archives administrative documents. The was complemented semi-structured founding members former volunteers partners ODD; key site visits to Moria Hotspot surrounding Olive Groves; as well desk study European Union (EU) policies legislative papers legal information regarding asylum seeker application procedure Europe Greece. Findings Reflecting potential limitations camps, concludes that order for make long lasting improvements they must think holistically design flexible structural solutions entire camp, leverage existing expertise within communities assist other organizations administrative, financial consultancy support. Community also expected take roles forming pro-equity structures steering pro-resilient trajectories acting mediators, lobbying their partners, advocating inclusive practices spaces documenting projects build evidence base across contexts strengthen voice collective architects. Originality/value post-disaster place-based recovery processes has been widely discussed disaster scholarship. have primarily emphasized permanent situ reconstruction efforts disaster-affected areas. What remains limitedly is resilience-building extraterritorial temporary displacement temporality such camps. In light these observations, aim this push boundaries knowledge post-crisis re-approaching notion migratory perspective revealing fostering new (national) territories.