Refuge from the War Next Door Part 2 Project 2024 Sasha SwannellNick RatcliffeJosephine HamillTom DeathridgeAlex DanielEric Chan University of Bath | UK How do cities on the periphery of warzones respond to unprecedented levels of urban migration?Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 caused one of the largest human displacement crises in modern history. By December 2022, 16.3 million Ukrainians left their homeland, many crossing the border into Poland to seek refuge. This forced migration presents cities on conflict boundaries with extraordinary challenges.Occupying a strategic position on a key escape corridor from Ukraine, Kraków’s population has increased by 23% in two years. This mass migration exacerbates the necessity to address existing city issues such as urban sprawl, poor air quality, and degrading natural environments.This masterplan project thus forms the first stage in a series of concentric rings to contain the city’s sprawling urban fabric and establish a framework for positive, healthy, and regenerative growth. It repurposes an existing ring-road on a historic 19th-century Bastion line, the revival of which acts as a citywide catalyst for sustainable growth. The reimagined fortification boundary forms a continuous smart urban park, enhancing density through increased social infrastructure and shared energy and data networks.This masterplan shows how cities can become sanctuaries for those fleeing conflict, harnessing the potential brought by significant population increases. Sasha SwannellNick RatcliffeJosephine HamillTom DeathridgeAlex DanielEric Chan Tutor(s)Mr Alex Wright