Rhythm of Life
Daycare Center at Kutupalong Refugee Camp
The daycare center at Kutupalong refugee camp is a therapeutic place for the traumatized Rohingya children, and a stimulus to initiate a self-sustainable living cycle for the community.
The impact of architecture is beyond the building itself. The material of the building translates to who will profit from the supply chain; the low-skill construction method can empower the local unemployed people. This project is from the option studio of Harvard Graduate School of Design, with collaboration of OBAT Helpers non-profit organization. It's supported by the Aga Kahn Program.
This project received Harvard GSD option studio distinction.
The most powerful tool to heal from trauma is the willingness from oneself.
The willingness not only to survive but also to live:
to have something to expect for tomorrow.
It was during the visit to Kutupalong refugee camp that I, for the first time, so strong realize that time is a social and cultural construct. For most of us, the concept of “week” structures the rhythm of our life: weekends is something to look forward to because work occupies the weekdays.
In the context where external trading is not allowed, employment is not immediately possible or even legal; people want to go back to their home in Myanmar as soon as possible - so there’s no incentive to devote time and resources to construct the settings for activities, events, and for life.
What can bring them something to look forward to?
Something that's adding value to life,
and also useful for their survival?
The natural cycles of plants have this power.
The daily, weekly and seasonally change of the plants bring joy, the respect of life and tie the community together. The selection of plants has a balanced height, form, colors, and usage. The string screens integrate the plants and the earth and create diverse spatial experiences that make the children feel protected, embraced, and open and free at the same time. The vegetables, jute, and fruit trees provide not only food, but also building materials, materials for crafts, and opportunities for trading.
Year: 2018
Type: Academic
Project Location: Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Bangladesh
Program: Day care center