Building Hope: The Forgotten People of Gaza

Since 2007, the Gaza Strip, an occupied Palestinian territory, has been under an Israeli and Egyptian siege. Terrestrial and nautical blockades, in addition to incessant militaristic onslaughts by the Israeli Defence Forces have had devastating impacts on the Gazan people, infrastructure and ecology. The resulting destruction, resource scarcities, utility and service deficiencies have produced an urgency for intervention. This work illuminates opportunities for design to be utilized as an agent of empowerment, amelioration, and hope. In an effort to interrupt compounding systems of oppression, an exploration of novel hydro-electric and ecological pavilions of refuge are proposed as speculative models of stable utilities and service provisions. Situated among ongoing UNDP rehabilitation efforts in Gaza's main socio-cultural and ecological spine, Wadi Gaza, these speculative models aim to provide sustenance, support and hope for the people of Gaza. Sustenance in Gaza is highly dependent on water and electricity, interconnected, as clean water is a scarcity highly impacted by the availability of electricity. My design addresses these scarcities through four components: buoys, terminals, transitory shelters, and spaces of play. Buoys harvest electricity, terminals harvest water and supply services to surrounding communities, while shelters and grow gardens provide livelihood support for Gazans. Spaces of play progress beyond sustenance to build hope for a better future The goal of this work is to bring about a sense of normalcy to Gazan lives though providing basic provisions and safeguards afforded to most around the world. The aim in designing these spaces of sustenance and support is to restore hope in the Gazan community. These spaces not only aid in ameliorating lacking infrastructure, ecology, and utility, but afford the predominately juvenile population an opportunity to experience their lives with less worry. Promoting recreation and play in a region bombarded with military occupation can bring about a sense of normalcy, while integrated spaces of shelter and provision provide sustenance and support in trying times.