The following paper presents the Master Thesis for MSc04 Group 7. The thesis details the process of designing long term settlement for Internally Displaced Persons, by examining the psychological effects of displacement in conjunction with the phenomenological concept of dwelling. A human centered design position was adopted as the foundation for developing a holistic housing scheme that can be implemented in the context of a Kenyan settlement. The project addresses the role of architecture in promoting a greater sense of belonging and community for a group of people faced with a loss of place.

The project utilizes environmentally sustainable resources and building strategies to create a settlement consisting of multiple clusters, each containing 16 dwellings. Additional amenities such as a Civic Center, Water Post and communal Bath House are also detailed. The scheme is finally presented as a response to the initial problem stemming from a global influx of Internally Displaced Persons.