Between Here and There: Architecture, Becoming, and the Search for Home After Displacement

Abstract

This thesis investigates the persistent cycles of displacement and strategies of place-making among communities affected by forced migration, focusing on Colombia’s history of conflict as case study and situating its findings within a broader discourse on displacement. Drawing on social history, and analysis of theory, literature, and architecture, the work explores how the trauma of uprooting disrupts social ties, erodes a sense of belonging, and fragments cultural identity for those forced to leave their places of origin. At the heart of the thesis is the concept of “architectural design containers for counter-displacement offerings”, spatial interventions conceived not merely as shelters, but as active agents in fostering identity, resilience, and community. The proposed containers are analyzed through mixed methods, including, architectural precedent studies, cartographic analysis and site research, and theoretical synthesis, to understand how they may resist cultural erasure, support the rebuilding of networks, and nurture agency among displaced peoples. Central Northwest Toronto, an area shaped by both Colombian newcomers and a highly diverse immigrant population, becomes the setting for a network of architectural design proposals, chosen for its diverse urban forms and histories of migration. Through detailed site analysis and reference to international case studies, the thesis demonstrates how architectural design and intervention can meaningfully respond to the shifting needs of displaced communities, serving as a platform for reconnection, storytelling, and agency. By integrating theoretical frameworks, participatory research, and design praxis, the work asserts the important role architects and urbanists can play in reconciliation, restoration of dignity, and the creation of genuine belonging for those affected by displacement. The thesis advances the conceptualization of design containers as adaptable spatial frameworks that can be tailored to diverse displacement contexts, supporting resilience, healing, and the formation of lasting communities.