Integrating disaster preparedness and social empowerment: A design-based framework for multipurpose cyclone shelters in refugee settlements

Refugee settlements represent some of the most climate-vulnerable environments globally, where forced displacement and overcrowding, compounded by inadequate services, intersect with escalating extreme weather risks. The Kutupalong camp in Cox's Bazar hosts nearly one million Rohingya refugees on low-lying, flood-prone terrain. Within this precarious environment, existing cyclone shelters, as is common throughout the Global South, are predominantly single-purpose and underutilized. This limited functionality fails to adapt to the everyday socio-cultural realities of displaced populations, thereby amplifying livelihood disruptions and psychosocial stress during disasters. This study presents a design-based framework for multipurpose cyclone shelters, utilizing Camp 10 of the Kutupalong refugee camp as a case study. The research integrates spatial risk assessments, derived from high-resolution satellite imagery and GIS-based multi-criteria analysis, with structural evaluations of locally available materials such as rammed earth, bamboo, and reinforced concrete. By synthesizing these spatial data with international precedents, this study develops an architectural prototype that functions as a hybrid community hub. The proposed design provides robust disaster protection while sustaining continuous essential services, including education, healthcare, and livelihood training. The prototype also enhances habitability and a culturally inclusive ambience by incorporating architectural innovations, including passive ventilation, shaded courtyards, and gender-sensitive layouts. This research demonstrates how a data-driven architectural design approach can reconcile immediate disaster resilience with long-term development objectives, providing a scalable template for humanitarian agencies in global displacement contexts.