Temporary Permanence

Temporary Permanence: The Urbanization of Jordan’s Refugee Camps is an exhibition by Zaineh Ghanayem that explores how temporary shelters transform into permanent settlements.

This research investigates how refugee camps in Jordan have evolved from temporary shelters into permanent urban settlements, revealing the relationship between architecture, displacement, and belonging. Over the past seven decades, Jordan has hosted refugees from Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Sudan. Many camps, once defined by emergency planning and humanitarian relief, have evolved into dense, self-built neighborhoods that now blend seamlessly with Jordan’s urban fabric.

The images, drawings, and models developed for this study will culminate in an exhibition connecting architectural documentation with lived narratives, contributing to broader discussions on displacement, informality, and urban resilience. These conversations will complement spatial documentation, grounding architectural analysis in lived experience.

Immigrants and refugees are integral to Jordan’s cultural and economic life, shaping its cities and redefining what belonging means in an urban context. Their contributions demonstrate how resilience and community can generate new urban forms despite limited resources. Observing how these communities create permanence out of transience will inform design lessons about density, adaptability, and collective living.

Awarded the AIA Chicago Foundation 2025 Martin Roche Travel Scholarship, the exhibition is supported by MAS Context. The exhibition will be on view at the MAS Context Reading Room (1564 North Damen Avenue, Suite 204, Chicago, Illinois 60622).