Abstract:
Having a sense of belonging to a place is important for everyone adapting to a new
environment but especially more so for displaced refugees. This is important for raising
confidence and self worth which gives refugees a better chance to understand and connect to
the surrounding culture and immediate environment.
Somali refugees first arrived in New Zealand as asylum seekers. They are discussed specifically
in this thesis with relation to the issue of discrimination, methods of integration and its issues
such as social depravation.
As an ethnic group, the Somali refugees are very distinct in their culture and religious belief
thus facing more challenges in the process of integration compared to other refugee
communities. This situation is not further aided as they live on the peripheries of the city, in this
case, central Wellington city and its outskirts, which impedes the chance of exchange between
their culture and other cultures that inform this multi-cultural city.
The central city represents a central cultural hub where culture is exchanged through a variety
of trade predominantly through food and the arts and crafts. This research explores the
importance of providing spaces within the commercial centre for the social and economic value
for the Somali refugees that could play a big part in their integration process. The thesis
discusses the history of the Somalis, methods of integration and social depravation, precedents
of successful spaces for cultural expression, concluding with the final design proposal
discussions and conclusion.
As the thesis explores the prospect of giving ownership to the Somali refugees in Wellington
city the design component of the thesis focuses on architectural interventions that would
facilitate and support cultural integration. The study explores the personalisation of an existing
inner city built space and the use for functional needs as a first step for the Somalis to partake
in economic and cultural exchange, understanding and eventually through such means develop
a sense of belonging.
