The seminar was conceptualized and led by Bahaa Bou Kalfouni for fourth-semester architecture students, coordinated by Dr. Gabriela Rembarz, with the assistance of architect Michał Podgórczyk. The entire process was documented by artist Ida Bocion, and the final outcomes were showcased in a public exhibition at MNG and during the Bałtycki Festiwal Nauki (BFN).
“Your creativity and skills play an important role in making an impact in responding to humanitarian challenges and global crises.”
— Bahaa Bou Kalfouni
The seminar began with three powerful guiding words: Concern, Responsibility, and Faith. We are living in an era where one crisis follows another, from the global COVID-19 pandemic and the Beirut Port explosion, to the war in Ukraine and the earthquake in Turkey. These events were the backdrop of the seminar’s central question: What is the role of architects in responding to humanitarian crises?
With this in mind, Participants were invited to explore the notion of shelter, not just as a structure, but as a fundamental human right and a creative design challenge. The aim was to train future architects to think critically and act responsibly, imagining temporary, emergency, and sustainable shelter solutions for displaced populations. This was not only a design exercise but an invitation to take part in real-world impact.
The seminar embraced a “learning by doing” approach an open, interactive, hands-on method of discovery, experimentation, and reflection. Discussions were held with experts from different fields, pushing the boundaries of traditional design learning.
Bou Kalfouni posed a bold question:
“Why can’t everyone be an architect in an emergency?”
The more people we engage in thinking and building, the better our collective response to crisis becomes. Students from other faculties were also invited to join, making the seminar more inclusive and interdisciplinary. Architect Michał Podgórczyk, co-founder of Pobereżny Podgórczyk, shared practical insights that inspired the students throughout the workshop.
During the construction phase, students witnessed their ideas materialize an emotional and powerful moment that far exceeds the impact of theoretical classroom learning. It’s a memory that will last a lifetime.
The seminar unfolded in three structured stages: Understanding, Conceptualizing, and Building — forming the backbone of the students’ journey.
Understanding: Students worked in groups of 3–4. Their first task was to research current migration patterns, focusing on the social, economic, and environmental challenges faced by refugees. Each group defined a problem and a hypothesis on how design — specifically a shelter — could be a responsive, urgent solution.
Conceptualizing: Each group proposed three design concepts, explored materials, and presented initial sketches. They chose one design to develop into a scale model (1:10 or 1:20), experimenting with form, structure, and the human experience of space. Durability tests and anthropological observation helped refine their ideas.
Building: Once their concept was approved, students prepared material lists and built full-scale prototypes (1:1) at the MNG-Oliwa site. Construction took about 10 hours with guidance from instructors.
During the process, a podcast was recorded by Torba reportera i podcastera, capturing voices from students and tutors, their thoughts, feelings, and reflections. Each group also designed an A2 poster documenting their concept and process, highlighting the power of learning by doing.
Participants Proposals
Each of the four groups tackled the challenge of shelter in a distinct and meaningful way, rooted in real-world contexts. Their proposals showed how architecture, even with minimal resources, can serve humanity with dignity, creativity, and care.
Project: IN-BETWEEN
Authors: Mateusz Płudowski, Anis Al-Rfooh, Julia Bielińska
Inspired by life in the Zaatari refugee camp (Jordan), the group designed a semi-public space to improve everyday life between existing shelters. Their idea: let users define how to use the space — as a classroom, prayer area, play zone, or gathering point. Built in 1:1 using fabric and cardboard, it showcased how flexible, human-centered design can create a sense of belonging in displacement.
Project: CHECKPOINT B
Authors: Anna-Mariia Onishchuk, Danil Zinkevych, Alicja Pszenna, Izabela Budendorf
Focused on refugees crossing into Poland from Ukraine, this shelter offered protection during the first night: warmth, rest, and emergency supplies. Installed at a bus stop in Oliwa (thanks to cooperation with Gdańsk’s transport authority, ZTM), it was made from simple, accessible materials. For six hours, it stood as a functioning prototype — monitored and recorded to study public interaction.
Project: SAFETY POD
Authors: Julia Batorska, Adrian Kiedrowski, Joachim Borzyszkowski
This project addressed trauma therapy for refugees, particularly those from Ukraine. A cylindrical “pod” was designed to create a feeling of safety and calm, using curved forms that reduce anxiety. The concept was backed by consultations with psychologists and surveys on spatial perception. The result: a thoughtful space, built from layers of cardboard, offering peace amid post-war chaos.
Project: YENİ ŞANS (New Chance)
Authors: Martyna Nowicka, Aleksandra Kotkiewicz, Jan Momot, Konrad Piech
Drawing on Leonardo Da Vinci’s 1503 bridge concept, this group created a self-supporting structure that adapts to different shelter needs. Easy to assemble and scalable, the design allows modular extensions. Covered with waterproof tarp, it provides a flexible space for sleep, rest, or gathering — resilient, smart, and inspired by history.
Final Reflections
What this seminar showed — through every sketch, model, and shelter built — is that architecture is not just about buildings. It’s about people, empathy, and the ability to adapt, respond, and rebuild.
Each student walked away not just with a project, but with a new understanding of their role in the world.
OPERATED BY BRAINY MEDIA AGENCY | +961 76132354
Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved.
OPERATED BY BRAINY MEDIA AGENCY | +961 76132354
Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved.
