Reception centres for refugees in polish urban space – specific challenges and design criteria

Abstract The temporary accommodation of migrants is a contemporary challenge for those responsible for shaping the housing environment. As a result of the escalation of the refugee crisis, especially after the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022, we observe an increasing demand for the organization of shelters on a massive scale for people affected by the humanitarian crisis. This leads to the identification of requirements related to the adaptation of buildings in the urban space of Polish cities into reception centres for refugees. These requirements are based on the experience of already existing centres, as well as international and local standards in this field. Developing a comprehensive set of design and spatial criteria for refugee reception centres in Poland seems important given the urgent need to develop a long-term strategy for responding to the migration crisis. It also requires urban infrastructure planning to be considered through the lens of resilience, sustainability and inclusivity.