The feedback I have been given so far is to, rather than designing for a problem, design what I want this place to be. It will never be built so this is the chance to make it happen in the way in which I want.
This place is to be a city, not just to protect, but to empower those living there. With that in mind there is some literature on permanent refugee residents that may inform my direction.
1. Refugia
Refugia is not a new nation-state, but rather a trans-national or cross-national entity initiated by refugees and displaced people. Confederal and archipelago-like in character, it brings together refugee communities in territories neighbouring societies in conflict, as well as in enclaves in transit countries and in neighbourhoods in more distant countries of settlement.
https://www.compas.ox.ac.uk/2016/imagining-refugia/
2. Europe in Africa
https://www.europeinafrica.com/
What if you could save the lives of thousands of refugees by offering them sanctuary – and a European passport – on a purpose-built island in the Mediterranean, complete with football stadium, business park and university? Panacea or dangerous dystopia, Europe in Africa is an idea which cannot be ignored.
