Speakers
Description
This paper illustrates the experience of Università Iuav di Venezia (Iuav) as a consultant to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) in developing design strategies for the recovery, reconstruction and development for the Gaza Strip. Recognising the complexity of the humanitarian crisis and the challenges posed by the evolving conditions of ongoing conflict, the paper presents an adaptive and replicable design framework capable of responding to dynamic external pressures. This approach underscores the importance of flexibility and responsiveness in addressing uncertainties on the ground, including limited access to reliable information.
The strategy shifts from a rigid top-down model – standard to the majority of reconstruction experiences – to an adaptive bottom-up framework, introducing design methodologies guided by a cohesive urban vision. This approach aims to create a platform for international collaboration to address global challenges through locally informed and context-sensitive solutions. Iuav’s strategy involves an integrated and adaptive set of phased interventions, implemented using a community and area-based approach. These interventions prioritise the restoration of essential public infrastructure and services, inclusive economic recovery, and governance. Collaboration between PAPP and Iuav enables iterative refinement of the strategy, incorporating feedback from various stakeholders to ensure contextual relevance. A first key outcome of this bottom-up process is the development of a transitional housing pilot project designed to meet immediate recovery needs while facilitating long-term reconstruction efforts. The pilot project proposes the creation of housing units functioning also as communal spaces with multiple uses. This minimizes financial and material resources requirements while fostering community interaction and social cohesion. The units are designed to accommodate essential services, such as water and energy connections and sanitation facilities, while providing spaces that can transition into more permanent housing solutions. Lightweight fiberglass technology enables the rapid assembly of the structure, comparable to standard early recovery interventions (tents, containers, etc.), while ensuring durability and dignity. This transitional housing system offers a medium- to long-term solution with the potential to adapt into stable housing or public services based on contextual needs.
The proposed design prioritises technical performance, community acceptance and urban integration.The units are adaptable to various densities, from single- to multi-generational households, and the modular system supports one-, two-, and three-story configurations. Features such as courtyards and accessible roofs are included to enhance the quality of life. Flexibility is a core design principle, allowing for site-specific urban configurations tailored to the unique characteristics of different locations within the Gaza Strip.
Community engagement is central to the strategy and must be conducted on the ground to identify needs and aspirations. Local communities and authorities are positioned as key stakeholders in shaping final solutions, with participatory processes forming the foundation of the broader design vision. Pilot project will act as a testing ground for fully constructed elements, with subsequent large-scale applications implemented in phases to address the varying needs of different populations. Decisions regarding structural and non-structural components were made with the long-term goal of establishing local production capabilities within Palestine. While the pilot project does not initially include the creation of production lines, the future establishment of such facilities is considered critical to scaling up the strategy. This approach generates local employment, enhances economic resilience, and fosters skill development. Concluding, these arguments overcome the business-as-usual intervention protocols and offer an updated approach to early recovery and reconstruction that emphasises adaptability and local empowerment. The pilot project is only one of a series that can occur in parallel, speeding up the process of societal, urban, and architectural recovery, laying - through community-based methods - the foundation for a resilient and inclusive urban future.
References
Albrecht B., Galli J. (2023) Cities Under Pressure. A Design Strategy for Urban Reconstruction, Berlin: Architangle.
Lozano E. (1990) Community Design and the Culture of Cities: The Crossroad and the Wall, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Rabie K., (2021) Palestine Is Throwing a Party and the Whole World Is Invited (Durham and London: Kareem Rabie.
Schwab, J. (2014) Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery: Next Generation, Chicago: American Planning Association.
Sorkin M., Sharp D., (2021) Open Gaza: Architectures of Hope, Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press.
World Bank Group, (2020) Building for Peace: Reconstruction for Security, Equity and Sustainable Peace in MENA, Washington: World Bank Group.
| Keywords | transitional housing; early recovery; community-based approach; sustainable reconstruction; |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
