Josje Staal

Beyond Shelter

A Welcoming Home
 

In 2022, images of people forced to sleep on the streets of the reception centre in Ter Apel deeply shocked me. I could not believe this was happening in the Netherlands. It made me realise that asylum seekers are too often sidelined, treated as temporary burdens rather than as future neighbours. This was the starting point for my graduation project: exploring how the power of design can contribute to a more humane and inclusive reception and present a new possible reality. 

During my research, I volunteered at VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (the Dutch Council for Refugees), where I met many people who were stuck in the system. One of them was Andres – one of the most joyful and energetic people I know. However, beneath his enthusiasm lies sadness and exhaustion. Having just turned eighteen, he was relocated to a temporary shelter with 600 others, sharing a bedroom with four strangers, stripped of privacy, stability and prospects. Andres is not alone; thousands of people live under similar conditions, being moved from place to place and cut off from meaningful participation in society.  

This experience shaped my design approach. I developed The Spectrum of Home: a framework based on universal human needs: foundation, purpose and connection. It demonstrates that good urbanism is not about designing for specific groups, but about creating spaces where everyone can live, grow and create a sense of belonging. The reception of asylum seekers should no longer be treated as a temporary inconvenience, but as a natural and integrated part of urban development.  

The second part of my project focuses on emergency shelter. Crises will always occur, yet our current response relies on costly and inhumane solutions, such as boats or gyms. I propose a proactive alternative: parks and public spaces designed for daily use but prepared to temporarily host shelter when needed.

“Temporality is the permanent quality for everyone.” 


Graduation date: 27 August 2025  
Graduation committee: Riëtte Bosch (mentor), Jasper Nijveldt, Rutger Oolbekkink 
Extra members: Hans van der Made, Robert Younger