The AZC as part of an inclusive society

The AZC as part of an inclusive society is an advice document from Studio L A commissioned by Floris Alkemade, Chief Government Architect, which was delivered to the central Dutch authority of asylum centres (COA) in 2020. As a result of our projects concerning the liveability of the former Bijlmerbajes, which was repurposed for asylum seeker housing, we were asked to contribute, from an architectural perspective, to the improvement of future living conditions in asylum centers (AZC). An AZC is often the first place newcomers enter after a period of uncertainty. In order to create more humane spaces, we believe that it is important to strip the spaces, architectural elements and employees uniforms of the visual features of confinement and control. For this advice document, we analyzed the current dilemmas of the COA, such as a lack of continuity in knowledge and experience resulting from an ever-changing staff count, and strongly varying budgets. We reflect on the added value of a team of architects and spatial experts within COA who can advise on the adjustments that are needed for each individual repurposed building. We relate the issue of asylum seekers to other urgent housing issues such as housing shortages among young people and students, and try to solve them in conjunction to each other. Our advice is aimed at creating a first home for the asylum seekers, addressing both the living areas and the public space where there is potential for a better connection with society as a whole. An important aspect of the document is that the spatial conditions do not stand alone, but that we link them to diversity within staff, opportunities for creating communities and the human and spatial aspects that contribute to a sense of security, inclusivity and acceptance.