Designing sustainable refugee settlements in Türkiye: A prioritized indicator framework and network-based scenario for Kilis
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In response to the growing demand for sustainable and resilient refugee settlements, this study proposes a comprehensive framework that integrates prioritized design indicators with network-based spatial planning. Through a comparative evaluation of six international refugee camps and the application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to thirteen key design categories, the research identifies the most critical factors for developing inclusive, adaptive, and environmentally sustainable settlements. A customized network analysis is employed to visualize the systemic relationships between physical features and design priorities across global case studies. The proposed framework is applied to a design scenario for Kilis, a province in Turkey significantly affected by the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake and home to a dense population of Syrian refugees. Informed by local architectural traditions and socio-cultural dynamics, the scenario incorporates modular housing, decentralized sanitation systems, solar energy infrastructure, and participatory planning processes. The resulting network diagram for Kilis demonstrates how priority indicators (such as safety, sustainability, and health) can be spatially embedded within the camp design. This integrative approach offers a replicable model for future refugee settlement planning, aligning humanitarian needs with long-term urban sustainability goals.
Author: Fatma Kürüm Varol Güneş
Institution: Bingöl University
Language: English
Topic: Migration and Exile Studies
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7117121561
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