Rohingya Refugee Site Camp 18 – in Ukhia, in the Bangladeshi region of Chittagong – is the location of a facility in which members of different generations of this predominantly Muslim ethnic group of Myanmar – victims of genocidal violence on the part of Burmese authorities – can exchange knowledge, reconnecting individual and collective memories to preserve their cultural heritage. With a built area of 500 square meters the complex rises on a hill and features a learning center, an open-air public auditorium, workshops, and an exhibition hall. The four roofs of nipa palm leaves (commonly used in Rohingya houses) are designed to collect rainwater and let light into the interior spaces. Rohingya craftspeople shared techniques that helped to give the project an appropriate focus, including their experiences in weaving bamboo. Given the temporary nature of the camp, the construction is designed to guarantee flexibility through elements like prefabricated columns, which are easy to dismantle.

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