Project R-11120

Making a home away from home: Asylum seekers' gendered experiences of place-making in Cape Town, South Africa. (Research)

In South Africa, asylum seekers are currently not housed i n refugee camps and are allowed to settle and work wherever they choose. As continuous tension exists between l ocals and migrants i n many areas, the regulations on the settlement of asylum seekers are currently under review. Women, LGBTIAQ+ and other gender diverse individuals are more vulnerable to gender-based violence, human trafficking and homelessness during migration and resettling. In order to understand how a diverse group of asylum seekers can be supported more effectively, this research aims to l earn how gender i dentity i nfluences asylum seekers' experiences of making homes. It will also endeavour to suggest ways i n which architecture can be employed to support these individuals. A combination of participatory feminist and architectural design research methods, with the ability to ensure the well-being of research participants, will be employed i n a qualitative study with asylum seekers. Architecture and Interior Design students will be i nvolved i n data collection and developing architectural design proposals to better support i ndividuals i n future. In addition to publishing the research via more traditional academic channels, ways to communicate and share data and findings i n a more accessible way will be explored i n order to i ncrease i mpact and reach a wider audience, i ncluding policy makers, service providers and the general public.

01 May 2021 - 31 December 2025