Climate-Resilient Housing Strategies in Protracted Refugee Settlements: Comparative Assessment of Building Typologies in El-Ayoun Camp, Algeria

Protracted refugee settlements face persistent housing vulnerabilities due to climatic extremities, infrastructural deficits, and resource scarcity. Despite growing global attention to sustainable construction, limited empirical research has examined climate-resilient housing strategies in long-term refugee camps. This study investigates housing typologies in El-Ayoun Camp, one of the largest Sahrawi refugee settlements in Tindouf, Algeria. Using a mixed-methods approach combining field inspections, technical material assessment, and semi-structured stakeholder interviews, the study evaluates four prevalent housing typologies: mud brick, cement block, mixed mud–cement construction, and red brick construction. The findings reveal a critical trade-off between thermal performance and structural durability. Mud-brick houses demonstrate superior thermal comfort but exhibit high vulnerability to torrential rains and flooding. Cement and red-brick constructions improve structural resistance but significantly increase indoor heat accumulation and construction costs. Mixed typologies represent adaptive solutions; however, they lack structural consistency. Across all construction typologies, zinc sheet roofing emerges as the primary thermal and safety vulnerability. The study proposes a climate-resilient refugee housing framework integrating material optimization, thermal regulation, structural reinforcement, and context-sensitive urban planning. The findings contribute to sustainable building design strategies for resource-constrained environments exposed to extreme climatic conditions.