Growing Social Fabric in Palestine

Urban restoration and community hub

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    Growing Social Fabric in Palestine

    Design of Kafr 'Aqab historic center as a green cultural hub to serve the community of rural Jerusalem. The project will host at least five cultural institutions and will emphasize the environmental aspect of the historic fabric, such as the use of local material, collecting rainwater, thermal comfort, vegetation of the cemetery and green shared spaces for the local community. The historic center will be the lungs of a suffocating village from pollution.

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    Holcim Awards Gold Middle East Africa

    Winner presentation Growing Social Fabric - Urban restoration and community hub, East Jerusalem (l-r): Stuart Smith, Member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation & Director of Arup, Germany/UK; Shatha Safi & Saja Mansour, RIWAQ-Center for Architectural Conservation, Ramallah, Palestine; and Meisa Batayneh Maani, Member of the Global Holcim Awards jury 2021, Member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation, and Founder and Principal Architect of Maisam Architects & Engineers, Amman, Jordan.

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    Growing Social Fabric in Palestine

    The trail that connects historic centers of Kafr 'Aqab and Jaba' aims to question the notion of borders and relationships between built and natural environments. A series of walks and community based activities were organized by Riwaq inviting different participants from the nearby communities and interested hikers from diverse disciplines. The trail also included a number of activities including oral history sessions, storytelling, exhibitions, performances and recycling activities.

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    Holcim Awards Gold Middle East Africa

    Winner presentation Growing Social Fabric - Urban restoration and community hub, East Jerusalem, Palestine (l-r): Maria Atkinson, Chairperson of the Holcim Foundation (at podium); Stuart Smith, Member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation & Director of Arup, Germany/UK; Shatha Safi & Saja Mansour, RIWAQ-Center for Architectural Conservation, Ramallah, Palestine; and Meisa Batayneh Maani, Member of the Global Holcim Awards jury 2021, Member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation, and Founder and Principal Architect of Maisam Architects & Engineers, Amman, Jordan.

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    Growing Social Fabric in Palestine

    Kafr 'Aqab in 2018 before Preventive Conservation Interventions.

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    Growing Social Fabric in Palestine

    Kafr 'Aqab phases of physical interventions.

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    Growing Social Fabric in Palestine

    Framework for reconstruction of traditional cross vaults.

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    Growing Social Fabric in Palestine

    Local workers and craftsmen reconstructing demolished parts.

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    Growing Social Fabric in Palestine

    Community mobilization and public design concepts of the children playground.

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    Growing Social Fabric in Palestine

    Kafr 'Aqab after the first phase of preventive conservation. An artwork on the rooftop.

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    Growing Social Fabric in Palestine

    Hiking trail connecting Kafr 'Aqab to the surrounding villages.

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    Growing Social Fabric in Palestine

    Storytelling performance on myths and oral history of the town.

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    Growing Social Fabric in Palestine

    Team members.

  • Awards Gold 2020–2021 Middle East Africa

By Shatha Safi, Saja Mansour, - RIWAQ-Centre for Architectural Conservation, Ramallah, PalestineYara Bamieh - Freelance Architect, Ramallah, Palestine and

Ideas: Inclusion, Economic & Social Empowerment

An environmental, social and cultural hub created through the restoration of the historic center.

Growing Social Fabric in Palestine

Project authors

  • Holcim Awards Gold Middle East Africa
    Shatha Safi

    RIWAQ-Centre for Architectural Conservation

    Palestine

  • Holcim Awards Gold Middle East Africa
    Saja Mansour

    RIWAQ-Centre for Architectural Conservation

    Palestine

  • Growing Social Fabric in Palestine
    Yara Bamieh

    Freelance Architect

    Palestine

  • Holcim Awards 2014 Africa Middle East ceremony, Beirut, Lebanon
    Khaldun Bshara

    RIWAQ-Centre for Architectural Conservation

    Palestine

  • Renad Shqierat

    Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center

    Palestine

  • Mawed Abu Shamaleh

    Freelance Engineer

    Palestine

  • Growing Social Fabric in Palestine
    Michel Salameh

    RIWAQ-Centre for Architectural Conservation

    Palestine

  • Tareq Dar Naser

    RIWAQ-Centre for Architectural Conservation

    Palestine

Project updates