JRSSEM 2023, Vol. 02 No. 6, 1122 – 1138

E-ISSN: 2807 - 6311, P-ISSN: 2807 - 6494

DOI : 10.36418/jrssem.v2i06.368 https://jrssem.publikasiindonesia.id/index.php/jrssem

REFUGEE SHELTER ON SELAYAR ISLAND, SOUTH

SULAWESI

Amanda Apriani

Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia

e-mail: amandapriani@gmail.com

*Correspondence: amandapriani@gmail.com

Submitted

: 26

December 2022

Revised

: 14

November 2022

Accepted

: 25

January 2023

Abstract: Refugee shelters are a crucial asylum in restoring the physical and psychological

situation. Although Indonesia is a strategic stopover country for refugees, refugee shelter

facilities in the country are still far from international eligibility standards. South Sulawesi, the

province with the second-highest number of refugees in Indonesia, currently does not have a

shelter to accommodate the diverse needs of refugees. Therefore, the purpose of this design

is to design a refugee shelter in South Sulawesi that complies with international eligibility

standards and can meet the needs of refugees, and make it easier for the government to

control. To meet this goal, data collection was conducted through a literature review of existing

international refugee shelter standards and precedent building. After that, a site analysis is

carried out to produce a building shape that is in accordance with the condition of the site.

The result of the design is a refugee shelter that can complete architectural and non-

architectural aspects including characteristics, basic needs, and evacuation activities.

Keywords: Refugee Shelter; Refugee Needs; Housing Standards.

Amanda Apriani | 1123

INTRODUCTION

A refugee is a person or group of

people who are forced to flee their country

due to persecution, war, or violence. A

refugee has a fear of persecution for

reasons of race, religion, nationality,

political opinion or membership in a

particular social group. By and large, they

cannot return to their original place of

residence or are afraid to return. Ethnic

warfare, tribal violence, and religion are the

main causes of refugees fleeing their home

countries(USA for UNHCR, 2017).

The 1951 International Refugee

Convention or commonly called the

Geneva Convention is a legal instrument

that regulates the types of legal protection,

other assistance, and social rights that

refugees must receive from countries that

have signed the treaty(USA for UNHCR,

2017) However, Indonesia is not a signatory

to this convention and can only help

through two solutions for asylum seekers

and refugees residing in its territory,

namely

repatriation

and

resettlement.

Indonesia, identified refugees are placed in

temporary shelters before being

dispatched to a third country. The

bureaucracy of such transfers often takes

up to 8 years (Missbach, 2016).

Figure 1. Migration route samples based on interviews with refugees(Human Rights

Watch, 2013)

Geographically, Indonesia is a strategic

stopover country for refugees. Tens of

thousands of migrants and asylum seekers

– many of whom come from East Africa, the

Middle East, Southeast Asia – go through

difficult and dangerous travel routes to

Australia, where migrants hope to find

opportunities for better lives and

protection from violence and persecution

in their home countries. To reach Australia,

they made Malaysia and Indonesia the first

1124 | Refugee Shelter on Selayar Island, South Sulawesi

stopover countries(Human Rights Watch,

2013)

In order to improve the quality of life

of these people, refugee shelters become a

crucial asylum in improving their physical

and psychological situation (Better Shelter,

2017) In addition, this building can be a

vital life defense mechanism in times of

crisis or displacement and can be key to

restoring personal security, independence,

and self-respect(United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees, 2017a).

Although the number of refugees and

asylum seekers coming to Indonesia is

increasing, they are distributed to various

cities(Fitriani, 2017) The technical

implementation unit appointed by the

government to handle refugees in South

Sulawesi is the Makassar Immigration

Detention Center. The Makassar

Immigration Detention Center not only

quarantines refugees and asylum seekers

who have been recorded in the

immigration bureaucracy and supervises

refugee shelters, but also isolates refugees

and illegal asylum seekers who enter the

South Sulawesi regional area (Ditjen

Imigrasi Republik Indonesia, 2014).

According to the South Sulawesi

Provincial Immigration Office, asylum

seekers as of October 2017 in South

Sulawesi were recorded at 1,855 people

(Rumah Detensi Imigrasi Makassar, 2017)

Even so, currently South Sulawesi still does

not have a shelter facility intended to

accommodate the diverse needs of

refugees, in addition to making it easier for

the government to carry out the quarantine

process and send it to third countries. As

of February 2017, refugees are spread

across 4 types of shelters, namely

community houses (1,171), Bolangi Prison

Immigration Detention Center (151),

Makassar Class I Immigration Office (6), and

Temporary Center (658) (Republika,

2017(Republika, 2017)

On the other hand, Selayar Island in

South Sulawesi has potential in terms of the

large availability of vacant land separate

from the

mainland

of South Sulawesi, thus

facilitating the process of controlling and

providing refugee shelter facilities

according to applicable standards. The

Selayar Strait is crossed by archipelago

shipping both to the east and west, and has

even become an international shipping.

Selayar Islands Regency is an archipelago

that is between alternative routes of

international trade which makes this area

geographically very strategic as the center

of shipping entry routes both nationally

and internationally. The placement of

refugee shelters in these locations can

make it easier for the government to detect,

control, receive, and coordinate without

making the shelter look like a prison.

Moreover, the island can develop an

integrated environment capable of meeting

the needs of refugees from the individual

to the communal level.

Seeing these conditions, it was felt

necessary to design a refugee shelter that

is not only a place to accommodate, but

also an integrated environment by

considering aspects of refugee security,

comfort, and health in addition to making

it easier for the government to carry out

surveillance, quarantine, and sending

refugees to third countries. Thus, later it can

create synergy between the needs of

refugees and the duties of the government.

The purpose of this study is to compile a

Amanda Apriani | 1125

reference containing the criteria and

requirements for designing a Refugee

Shelter on Selayar Island, South Sulawesi

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The method of designing refugee

shelters starts from developing initial

design ideas to solve existing problems and

generate new opportunities from a status

quo, conducting literature reviews of

applicable standards and existing

precedent buildings, conducting project

reviews through macro and micro analysis,

and formulating the results of the analysis

into a design concept.

Data search and processing are

classified into two categories, namely

primary data and secondary data. Primary

data is data obtained directly from the

source, observed, and recorded. While

secondary data is data obtained from

literature materials(Marzuki, 2000). The

data collection or processing stage is the

process of obtaining data related to the

planning and design of a Refugee Shelter

on Selayar Island, South Sulawesi. At this

stage, these data are obtained from

primary data and secondary data that

support the building design process

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Selection of Location

Based on the recruitment of rented

places, there are 2 alternative sub-districts

that were chosen as locations for refugee

shelters because of their security

potential, low population density,

accessibility, and facilities and

infrastructure that can meet the needs of

refugees' lives, namely:

1) Bontosikuyu District

Figure 2. Bontosikuyu Subdistrict

Map(Wikipedia, 2017)

It is a sub-district that is directly

adjacent to the sub-districts of Bontoharu,

Pasimasunggu, Taka Bonerate, and the

Flores Sea (Wikipedia, 2017). The

population density is 60/km

. It has an

area of 248.22 km

with 11 urban villages

(inside and outside Selayar Island) (Badan

Pusat Statistik Kabupaten Kepulauan

Selayar, 2016). The 9 sub-districts of

Bontosikuyu sub-district located on

Selayar Island consist of Harapan Village,

Appa Tanah, Lowa, Lantibongan, Binanga

Sombaiya, Laiyolo, Laiyolo Baru, Patikarya,

and Patilereng (Wikipedia, 2017) There

are 2 villages located outside Selayar

Island, namely Tambolongan and Polassi

Villages. The total population is 14,873

(11,942 inhabitants on Selayar Island and

2,931 outside Selayar Island).

Public facilities in Bontosikuyu

Subdistrict consist of 52 schools (15

1126 | Refugee Shelter on Selayar Island, South Sulawesi

kindergartens, 20 elementary schools, 7

junior high schools, 1 high school, 6

raudatul athfal madrasahs, 2 ibtidaiyah

madrasahs, and 1 tsanawiyah madrasah);

60 health infrastructures (2 puskesmas, 11

auxiliary health centers, and 47

posyandu); 52 places of worship (47

mosques, 4 mushallah/langgar, and 1

church); 43 entertainment infrastructure

(41 tourist attractions and 2 restaurants)

(Badan Pusat Statistik Kabupaten

Kepulauan Selayar, 2016).

2) Buki Subdistrict

Figure 3. Buki District

Map(Wikipedia, 2017)

It is a subdistrict directly adjacent to

the districts of Bontomatene, Bontomanai,

Flores Sea, and Makassar Strait

(Wikipedia, 2017). The population density

is 93/km2. It has an area of 68.14 km

with

a total of 7 villages and villages consisting

of Buki, Bontolempangan, Balang Butung,

Lalang Bata, and Kohala (data area of

Mekar Indah and Buki Timur is still joined

by the main village). Its population was

6,317.

Public facilities in Bontosikuyu

Subdistrict consist of 29 schools (10

kindergartens, 10 elementary schools, 3

junior high schools, 1 high school, 2

raudatul athfal madrasahs, 1 ibtidaiyah

madrasah, and 2 tsanawiyah madrasahs);

28 health infrastructures (1 puskesmas, 4

auxiliary health centers, 23 posyandu); 32

places of worship (32 mosques); 4

entertainment infrastructure (4 tourist

attractions) (Badan Pusat Statistik

Kabupaten Kepulauan Selayar, 2016).

a. Comparison of Alternative

Locations

Based on the comparison of

locations above, the following is a table of

weighting of selected locations based on

criteria that support the design of a

Refugee Shelter on Selayar Island.

Table 1. Site Selection Weighting

Criterion

Bontosikuyu

Subdistrict

Buki

Subdistrict

Low population density

Access to educational, health, places

of worship, and entertainment

facilities and infrastructure

Enabling the use of existing

infrastructure, in the form of water,

electricity, disposal, solid waste

disposal, and highways

Amanda Apriani | 1127

Availability of means of transport

Safe from all threats both directly and

potentially

Sum

Description: 4= excellent

3= good

2= less

From the results of the weighting of alternative locations, a location was chosen in

Bontosikuyu District.

Site Determination

1. Tread Determination

In determining the site of the Refugee Shelter, the things that are the subject of

consideration and input used in the conceptual design are:

a) Close to facilities and infrastructure that can support refugee and management activities

(educational infrastructure, health infrastructure, worship infrastructure, and

entertainment infrastructure)

b) Near / easily accessible site from the highway

c) Availability of sufficient land

The alternative sites found in Bontosikuyu District are as follows.

Figure 4. Alternative Tread 1 (Google Maps, n.d.-d)

Site 1 is located in Harapan Village, Bontosikuyu District which is a land on the side

of the highway with surrounding buildings that are not so dense in the form of residential

houses, 4 mosques (Nurul Iman Mosque, Jabal Nur Mosque, Jami Nurul Muhajirin Mosque,

Lailoyo Baru Mosque 2), UPTD Bontosikuyu Health Center, Bontosikuyu State High School

1, Warkop Siholung, Warung Inchi, Alfara Donat, Rezky Light Shop, and Rezky Kiosk. The

tread area is ± 93,350.66 m

Alt 1

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Figure 5. Alternative Tread 2 (Google Maps, n.d.-d)

Tabak 2 is located in Lantibongan Village, Bontosikuyu District which is a land on the

side of the highway with dense surrounding buildings in the northern part in the form of

residents' houses, 3 mosques (Lantibongan Mosque, Lantibongan Village Mosque, and Nurul

Iman Mosque), Lowa Health Center, Lowa Village Traditional Market, and Al-Mahzan Hostel.

The tread area is ± 53,521.64 m

a) Access to facilities and infrastructure that support refugee activities and

managers

Table 2. Comparison of access to facilities and infrastructure

from sites 1 and 2

Site 1

Site 2

Close to 4 mosques, UPTD

puskesmas, schools, warkop,

warungs, donut shops, grocery

stores, and kiosks

Close to 3 mosques,

puskesmas, traditional

markets, and hostels

b) The tread is easily accessible from the highway

Table 3. Comparison of access to highways from sites 1 and

Site 1

Site 2

Being on the side of the

highway

Being on the side of the

highway

c) The site has a sufficient area based on space requirements

Table 4. Comparison of site areas 1 and 2 based on space

requirements

Site 1

Site 2

Sufficient tread area

Alt 2

Amanda Apriani | 1129

From the kriteria above, then the selected tread is site 1.

Figure 6. Selected sites(Google Maps, n.d.-d)

Site Analysis

Basic Concepts of Designing a Refugee

Shelter on Selayar Island, South Sulawesi

a. Basic Concepts of Transforming

Forms of Accommodation Units

The refugee shelter

accommodation unit basically

considers the psychological condition

of the refugee, so the dynamic shape

of a cylinder becomes the choice of the

basic shape of the building. The

transformation of additives with the

addition and merger of several

cylinders into several variations in the

shape of the building is based on

considerations of the division of

functions in the layout (bedroom and

bathroom) and circulation so that it is

not rigid, angular, or repetitive.

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Figure 2. Shape Transformation 1

Figure 3. Shape transformation 2

b. Transformation of Communal Building

Forms

Figure 5. Transformation of Communal

Building Forms

The communal building uses a

cylindrical base shape which functions as a

center of communal activities in the form of

a multipurpose room and undergoes an

additive transformation with the addition

of a U-shape to produce centralization of

functions, namely registration/

administration rooms, case management,

counseling, training, health care, and

communal kitchens.

Figure 4. Shape transformation 3

Amanda Apriani | 1131

A. Building Structure Concept

Table 5. Building Structure Concept

Types of

structures

Criterion

Selected Structural

Materials

Application to Building

Design

Upper

structure

 Resistant when

exposed to sea breeze

salt content, so as not to

cause a change reaction

to the material

 Resistant to salt water,

so it is strong when

exposed to seawater

 Pliable and strong, so it

is easy to form curved

and the tissue is strong

 Materials are widely

found on Selayar Island,

so they are efficient in

time and logistics costs

Figure 5. Bamboo roof

frame

The roof frame is made

of bamboo because it

is flexible (malleable)

and strong

Super

structure

 Resistant when exposed

to sea breeze salt

content, so as not to

cause a change reaction

to the material

 Resistant to salt water,

so it is strong when

exposed to seawater

 The density and

hardness of the wood is

high, so it is resistant to

water and insects and

does not need too much

care

 Many materials are

found on Selayar Island,

so it is efficient in

logistics time and costs

Figure 1. Laminated

wooden frame and

bamboo wall

The wooden frame will

be combined with

laminated bamboo

walls so that it can

become a

breathable

wall

that supports the

entry of natural

habitation, but is

resistant to pest

disturbances

1132 | Refugee Shelter on Selayar Island, South Sulawesi

Bottom

structure

(substruct

ure)

 Suitable for simple

construction

 Suitable for stacking

wooden frame poles

 Resistant to

earthquakes

 Materials are widely

found on Selayar Island,

so they are efficient in

time and logistics costs

Figure 2. Umpak

foundation

The umpak foundation

is supported by a

stone foundation that

is in the ground and a

sloof as a binder for

the structure, as well as

a haul that enters the

stone umpak axle from

the bottom of the

umpak or pole

3. Schematic Design and Site Plan

4. Communal Building Design

Entry gate

Outer parking

Park (to bond with locals)

Inner car parking

Inner motorbike parking

Welcoming gazebo

Communal building

Playground

Football yard

Jogging track

Ground water tank

Genset building

Refugee accomodation

Agriculture area

Site Plan (1:400)

Amanda Apriani | 1133

5. Accomodation Units Design

1134 | Refugee Shelter on Selayar Island, South Sulawesi

6. Circulation System

7. Electricity System

Electricity is sourced from PLN And (State

Electricity Company) generators so that the

electrical system in the building will remain

connected to the PLN network as the

primary source of electricity and divert the

electricity source from the generator

warehouse if the PLN electricity condition

is interrupted.

The circulation system is divided into 3, namely circulation outside the site, circulation

within the site, and circulation in the building environment

Amanda Apriani | 1135

8. Clean Water and Dirty Water System

This building uses a rainwater harvesting

system (accommodating and treating

rainwater). Water from the PDAM

(Municipal Waterworks) in-ground tanks is

distributed directly to the communal

buildings and reservoirsofeach

accommodation cul-de-sac.

In addition, dirty water will be processed

into secondary water with a wastewater

treatment plan system. After solid and

liquid waste are separated in a septic tank,

the waste will pass through a soil filtration

treatment system to be filtered and reused

as water for watering plants.

9. Fire Fighting System

Hydrant systems are placed in each cul-de-

sac and communal building, so they are

easy to reach if there is a fire. The

playground is used as a safe assembly point

to gather residents during the event of a

fire.

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10. Communication System

The communication system is divided

into 2, namely telephone and walkie

talkie. The telephone is the main means of

communication, while the walkie talkie is

used by the security department and in

times of emergency.

Figure 17. Phone installation system

The telephone network from Telkom

is connected to a PABX (

Private Automatic

Branch Exchange

) device as a control

station. Furthermore, the phone is routed

to the MDP (

main distribution panel

) and

telephone distribution points.

11. Surveillance System

The surveillance system uses a CCTV system.

Figure 18. CCTV installation system

CCTV unit cameras are installed at

points to be monitored. After that, the

recording results will be transmitted to

digital video recorders and monitors. So,

the supervisor can see the recording

display with

remote viewing

12. Sound System

Figure 19. Sound installation system

LAN

Remote

viewing

Digital video

recorder & monitor

CCTV

unit

camera

Telkom

PBX

MDP

Point Dof

the wife

Batteries

Electricity

Tuner FM /

Tape

Pagi

Mixe

Amplifier

Microphon

Relay

Sound

system

Power

amplifier

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A sound system is urgently

needed in refugee shelters to appeal to

refugees.

Conclusion

Currently, there are refugee

accommodation facilities in Makassar City,

South Sulawesi. However, these facilities are

still far from meeting the standards of

fulfilling the various basic needs of refugees

and the government in charge of tracking,

coordinating and sending them. Therefore,

we designed a refugee shelter on Selayar

Island, South Sulawesi based on a literature

review of standard refugee shelters and

existing precedent buildings as well as

macro and micro analysis. The results of

designing refugee shelters are 1) Analysis

of site selection and selected sites that are

most strategic in meeting the needs of

refugees and convenience for the

government to send refugees to third

countries 2) Site plan management based

on a zoning system that can make it easier

for refugees to mingle with local residents

and protected from threats of kidnapping

and sexual harassment as well as the

government and related NGOs to monitor

and organize recovery programs for

refugees 3) Selection of building designs

and materials that are suitable for the

tropics and can be built with local

capacities.

The refugee problem is a complex and

varied issue. A result of designing refugee

shelters in one location may not necessarily

be applicable to refugee cases in other

locations. However, the method and

approach used by the author in designing

can be a reference for related

academics/practitioners when planning to

design refugee shelters in the future. The

authors suggest that designers consider

standard aspects as well as pre-existing

buildings which are balanced with wisdom

in incorporating local elements such as

climate and culture in order to create a

synergy with the surrounding environment.

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© 2023 by the authors. Submitted  
for possible open access publication  
under  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  Creative 
Commons  Attribution  (CC  BY  SA)  license 
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). 
 
 