The Rohingya Camps; Permanence in Transition 

This studio explores the evolving condition of the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, where over a million displaced people face uncertain futures. Led by Professor Fuad Mallick, a visiting professor in Urban Planning and Design, the studio critically examines the intersection of humanitarian aid, environmental challenges, and long-term settlement strategies. 

Throughout the course, students analyze the shifting policies and spatial dynamics of the camps, engaging with on-the-ground realities through a field visit to Bangladesh. The course challenges the notion of temporariness in refugee settlements, questioning how infrastructure, governance, and design can accommodate both immediate relief and long-term sustainability. 

Through research, mapping, and design interventions, students propose strategies that reconcile the complexities of displacement, resilience, and integration. The studio culminates in a final project synthesizing policy, planning, and architectural solutions, contributing to broader discussions on forced migration and urbanization in the Global South.

The Rohingya Camps; Permanence in Transition is a Studio Report from the Fall 2023 semester at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design based on an option studio of the same name taught by Fuad Mallick.

Series designed by Zak Jensen and Laura Grey
Report designed by Tristan Kamata

Softcover, 120 pages, 17 x 24.5 cm