Narrative and Design Concept

The narrative driving this design describes grandparents, Ayada and Hamou, and twelve-year old grandson, Ammar, with his baby goat, Baba, who made the journey from Morocco to the Canary Islands. Due to the rising climate, lack of vegetation, for Ayada and Hamou are farmers, and old age, the decision to flee was actually made by Ammar’s mother, Adrae. In traditional Moroccan culture, it’s customary for the children to take care of their parents as they age, for elderly shelters are not used like here in the U.S.. Additionally, Baba was brought along due to the fact that he would be slaughtered if left behind and Ammar considered him to be his pet. Adrae found a ship, the Alithini II oil tanker, with a rudder that could be easily snuck on. So, at night they boarded the small, rough rudder to head to the Canary Islands; however, while boarding, the ship began to leave and Adrae was left behind. The approximate sixty- two mile journey was very challenging with the waves, wind, and amount of movement from the rudder steering the ship. Upon arrival, the family was suffering with hypothermia and dehydration and was transported to the hospital. After treatment, they were transferred to a UN Military tents, but was recently reconstructed to hold more

While conducting research on migrant camps in the Canary Islands, our group discovered the widespread, structure of plastic tents. These structures have plagued issues like: overcrowding, unsustainability, and lack of ventilation. Aiming to mend these noted issues, while providing a sense of permanence, our design focuses on the serene, congenial experience for the family. Through carefully selected materials: corrugated metal, plywood, cedar, and tile, this design re-imagines what current camps can become once demolished like planned. Sequentially, the material selection encouraged more of the design, highlighting geometric shapes, Moroccan architectural motifs, and pre-existing framework of preceding tents. PARTI