Qualitative Study of Selected Dormitories of the Lodz University of Technology in Terms of Architectural Accessibility and the Possibility of Using Them for Temporary Residence of Refugees from Ukraine

After Russia attacked Ukraine, it became a challenge to create a base of temporary housing for refugees, with particular emphasis on people with individual needs, including people with disabilities. The article continues the author’s previous research on architectural audits as tools for creating the accessibility of university facilities on the example of selected student dormitories of the Lodz University of Technology. The analysis aims to show whether selected facilities that play a key role in the organisational and functional structure of the academic community are prepared for situations such as the urgent need to provide housing for people in crisis.

Qualitative research consisted of conducting an original survey on the needs related to temporary accommodation and analysis of technical documentation of selected student dormitories. Architectural audits were performed following the checklist developed for the study. The adopted work methodology made it possible to demonstrate the degree of compliance of the existing architectural space with the actual needs of refugees from Ukraine.