A Passage to Belonging

A Passage to Belonging: Reinterpreting the Afghan ‘Gozar’ to Nurture Afghan Refugee Women’s Sense of Belonging in Marzahn/Berlin

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Being born into an Afghan refugee family in Iran, the question of belonging has long been part of my personal experience. Growing up in displacement allowed me to understand how forced migration can disrupt this sense not only for myself but also for many others I encountered throughout life. With a narrative perspective, this thesis focuses on Afghan refugee women, who often face additional social and spatial limitations in their everyday lives.

By conducting interviews and reflecting on personal experiences, I began to realize the significance of culturally rooted spaces such as the Gozar, a traditional local passage in Afghan neighbourhoods where everyday interactions and informal gatherings happen naturally. Drawing from this understanding, the study integrates a literature review, reflexive-ethnographic reflection, time-travel interviews, and site analysis to convert these narratives into insights for spatial design.

The project suggests a temporary intervention inspired by Gozar in a parking lot on Paul-Schwenk-Straße in Marzahn, a location where multiple refugee shelters are situated and opportunities for social interaction are limited. Conceived as a modular scaffold structure, the design allows adaptability, low-cost implementation, and temporary use in line with Berlin’s culture of interim urban spaces. By introducing familiar activities rooted in Afghan cultural practices together with spatial and sensory design elements, the project aims to encourage everyday encounters and support the gradual formation of belonging.”