Legal, technological and environmental aspects of refugee camps

The complexity of the immigration phenomenon, in which Italy is involved, requires an analytical and design approach, interdisciplinary oriented in order to enhance the cultural potential, economic and social growth. According to the current immigration policies, strongly oriented to integration and inclusiveness, it raises the need for a reflection on the problems linked to the legal aspects and the “space” dimension of the refugee camps. They are officially temporary places; however, refugees stay there on average for 6 years. This requires the control of not only social but also environmental sustainability conditions. Starting from the regulatory framework today represented by the first European legislation on management of migratory flows and recognition of the fundamental rights of the migrant population, the contribution aims to highlight two fundamental aspects: 1. the criticisms of spaces for reception, in relation to which there is a need to identify the right balance between security and integration (Savino, 2012); 2. the energy and environmental qualities of which the reception places can be equipped, according to the eco-oriented technological design approach that is low cost, low energy and low impact. In this direction a different design approach is outlined with regard to such centers, understood not as places of conflict (both among migrants and between them and host populations) but as sharing sites (Bellaviti, 2011) and Well-being (Pinto Faria et al, 2013). The design methodology is illustrated through a series of best practices forming the palimpsest of design experimentation of quarry area in the province of Caserta, redeveloped in order to host a refugee camp.