Greece, common spaces to combat migratory trauma: the idea of ​​two Italian architects

It is called ‘Maidan tent’ and is a multifunctional space designed for the Ritsona refugee camp thanks to the enthusiasm of two professionals who have now launched a campaign to raise funds and carry out their project

We believe everyone can help in this refugee crisis “, we believe that anyone can help (to solve) this refugee crisis. This is the slogan adopted by the ” Maidan tent ” project, the work of two young Italian architects who have decided to make their contribution by studying and designing a multi-purpose area within the Ritsona refugee camp in Greece. The goal is to encourage aggregation and give moments of carefree to asylum seekers who crowd the camp. To do so they launched a crowdfunding campaign on the web hoping to reach the 40. 000 dollars needed for the realization of the work.

From Haiti to Greece.Two young Italian architects are bringing the idea forward: Bonaventura Visconti di Modrone and Leo Bettini Oberkalmsteiner with the sponsorship of the International Organization for Migration. It all started when the first was in Haiti involved in the design of an orphanage. During a trip to Europe, he experienced first hand the difficult living conditions in the Idomeni refugee camp and after contacting his former classmate, together with the latter he decided to do something to help migrants stranded in Greece.

Destination Ritsona.To understand which of the Greek camps was most suitable for developing his own idea, Visconti and Bettini made countless inspections. Only after several visits to the camp, the choice fell on Ritsona north of Athens. During these reconnaissance meetings organized with local NGOs, it was possible to confront the inhabitants and gather testimonies and indications. “At the camp – the two architects continue – we came into contact with almost all the 600 people who live within it. We were able to see how much the latter – despite the very long wait – are still patient, available and interested in new initiatives.

A square against pain. The idea is to create a space open to all, multifunctional and ad hoc to give applicants and migrants a place to socialize. The project envisages a transportable structure that is a place where one can read, play, study or devote oneself to craft activities so as to be able to restore a semblance of normality to those who had to flee their homes. All to alleviate what psychologists call “migratory trauma”. “By making available a shared space that can be managed and used by the refugees themselves – they conclude – an environment is recreated in which to build relationships and carry out those social activities that characterize everyday life. Refugee camps are extraneous places and structured gifts to meet basic physical needs, but often they do not take into account the psychological component of those who live there. Providing a space to share, even just to meet indoors and drink tea or play cards, can make a difference. Just think of the importance as a meeting place and interaction that the small squares of our countries have, not surprisingly Maidan means its own square in Arabic “.