on the so-called “margins” of europe, the calabrian villages of riace and camini (italy) have gained international recognition for their distinctive responses to migration and depopulation. by repurposing abandoned homes to host incoming refugees, they have successfully counteracted depopulation and infrastructural decline.

this year-long investigation at the centre for research architecture (goldsmiths, university of london) set out to interrogate the meaning of sanctuary-building within hostile environments. Its main finding is that these practices reveal sanctuary not as a fixed refuge, but as an ongoing counter-infrastructure: one that both contests and is continually shaped by reactionary policies, offering glimpses of alternative worlds.

the methodology draws on feminist theories of situated knowledge and embodiment, employing textile processes not only for their historical and symbolic significance but also as tools for generating alternative spatial narratives.