Margherita Moscardini's Inventory of Courtyards in Za'atari Refugee Camp

Italian artist Margherita Moscardini (born 1981 in Donoratico) focuses on the borderlands between Jordan and Syria, specifically the Za'atari refugee camp. Opened in 2012 to host Syrians fleeing war, the camp reached a population of 150,000 in 2015 and now houses 80,000 residents, making it Jordan's fourth-largest city. Residents have begun modifying prefabricated structures by rebuilding them around a central courtyard with a fountain—a traditional element in Arab homes. Water symbolizes rebirth and normalcy. Moscardini compiles an inventory of these courtyards, documenting designers and owners by name. Za'atari serves as a case study for the unstable condition of war-displaced populations.