BIG and To.org Propose Modular Urban Masterplan for Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement
The project reimagines Uganda's Bidi Bidi settlement as a permanent, scalable economic hub for refugees.
1Redefining Temporary Settlements
BIG and To.org have unveiled a masterplan to transform Bidi Bidi, Uganda, from a temporary camp into a permanent city. Home to roughly 230,000 to 250,000 refugees, the site is designed to accommodate 155,000 additional residents. This shift challenges the traditional humanitarian model by treating long-term displacement as an urban development opportunity.
2Scalable Fractal Design
The masterplan utilizes a modular, fractal approach that begins with 250-square-meter family plots. These units organize into compounds, neighborhoods, and eventually districts. This structure allows the settlement to grow organically over time, mirroring the social dynamics of local vernacular settlements where homes cluster around shared courtyards for communal activities.
3Economic Integration Strategy
Bjarke Ingels argues that viewing camps as cities turns charity into future-oriented investment. By incentivizing companies to locate production within these zones, the plan aims to provide refugees with long-term economic opportunities. The proposal includes a solar-powered industrial hub, coworking centers, and market squares to foster trade and local production.
4Local Materials and Construction
The architectural design draws on research from 2025 visits to Kakuma and Bidi Bidi. Construction utilizes locally sourced materials like sun-dried earth bricks, laterite stone, and bamboo. These methods are refined to improve ventilation, weather protection, and mosquito control, ensuring the structures are both sustainable and adapted to the regional environment.
5Civic and Social Infrastructure
Beyond housing, the plan integrates essential public facilities including technical schools, health centers, and healing gardens. Pedestrian paths and transport loops connect residential areas with productive landscapes like bamboo groves and aquaculture ponds. These shared spaces are intended to support everyday social activity while providing critical resources for the community.
6Uganda as Strategic Site
Bidi Bidi was selected due to Uganda's 2006 Refugee Act, which grants refugees the right to work, move freely, and acquire agricultural plots. To.org co-founder Nachson Mimran notes that few nations offer this legal framework. This unique policy environment makes Uganda an ideal location for testing the inaugural Refugee City model.
7Prototype and Implementation
The first phase involves a prototype single-family housing unit currently under construction on the site. Once completed, this unit will serve as a guesthouse for international investors and collaborators. The project builds upon existing infrastructure, such as the performing arts center completed in 2024, to create a cohesive urban environment.
8Future Scaling Challenges
Realizing the full masterplan depends heavily on securing capital investment and continued government flexibility regarding refugee work rights. While designed to be a scalable blueprint for global refugee flows, the model requires host nations to adopt supportive policies. The project’s success hinges on transitioning from emergency aid to sustainable urban systems.