Urban Refugees

TOPIC:
In 2014 fifty million people worldwide have left their homes as a response to climate change and conflict. This represents the highest number since the Second World War. German cities are called upon to accommodate more and more asylum seekers as well as refugees from civil war countries. The same is true for the city of Stuttgart that not only faces up to the task to accommodate the refugees, but moreover sees it also as a challenge for integration policy. Accordingly, the „Stuttgart Model“ seeks to avoid large-scale placements and instead to accommodate refugees decentrally. In this context integration becomes a challenge in society as a whole and many Stuttgarters are already engaged in the surroundings of hostels. In this spirit this IRD seminar is interested in understanding where and how refugees are living in the host city. During this IRD project „Urban Refugees Stuttgart“ we concern ourselves with the international, national and particularly local conditions in Stuttgart that influences the topic. Foremost an overview will be elaborated: relevant legal conditions, important actors, kind and location of accommodations, supporting programs, political debates etc. will be analysed. In parallel we study literature e.g. by migration studies and concepts like multicultural society as well as analyse national and international case studies. These studies are meant to generate ideas for the local context. Based on this indepth analysis a strategy for improving the existing situation will be developed in collaboration with local actors. Cooperation is ensured amongst others with the NGO „Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dritte Welt e.V.“ to ensure that our approach is sensitive and our concepts close to the real needs. We are interested in who and how people use, perceive and maybe even change the sites as well as how they contribute with their culture to the city. A key concern is to illustrate the creative potentials and integration achievements by refugees themselves. A first step will also be implemented jointly with local actors. Outcomes are meant to be a stimulation and less ready-made concepts. The outcomes are presented in an exhibition at the end of term.

ORGANISATION:
For IUSD and Diplom, Master, Bachelor students of Architecture and Urban Planing Language of the course: English, German (and Turkish) as communication languages to the public.