** Co-presented with Goethe Pop Up Seattle. **

In Berlin, the arrival of thousands of refugees since 2015 led to the development of a new type of refugee camp, called “Tempohomes.” The well-intentioned projects were meant as an upgrade from what were formerly common tent shelters, but with only 13-square-meters of space for two individuals, the new constructions overlooked the importance of privacy, culture, and the complexity of social relations.

Designed by Germans, Tempohomes have been especially unsuitable for the cultural habits of Middle Eastern immigrants, who often sleep on floors rather than mattresses or rely on carpets as spaces for social interaction. In refugee camps where carpets are not allowed, holes cannot be drilled into walls, and partial curtains were only allowed after negotiations for privacy, questions of control and protection are raised. Despite the standardized structure of the units, which are reminiscent of modernist mass housing, each refugee brings with them their identities and habits and finds ways to express their individuality, despite all restrictions.