University of Portsmouth Architecture students collaborate with City of Sanctuary to support refugees

Second-year architecture students at the University have partnered with Portsmouth City of Sanctuary (PCoS), an award-winning grassroots humanitarian organisation, to design a community hub supporting refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced individuals. Through this collaboration, students engaged with community members, gathering their input to develop architectural proposals that address the city’s needs and embody the values of PCoS.

One student commented that "providing emergency accommodation for refugees/asylum seekers… has felt very current and appropriate and pressing".  Another student, Sara, has since started volunteering with PCoS. Yana Nanovska, from the University, commented “The project brief resonated with so many students and encouraged them to design with empathy and care. Once the students understood the potential to make a positive impact in people’s lives, through their work, it noticeably boosted their skills and confidence”.

Denise Callender, Trustee of Portsmouth City of Sanctuary, said: "The architecture students were really engaged with the project, and asked lots of meaningful questions about the issues that asylum seekers and refugees face. The spaces they designed for asylum seekers were inspirational with social and inclusive solutions at the heart of their work".