Architecture in Gaza and the West Bank

The past two years have brought about some radical changes to the Middle East. Concepts of peace and security replacing occupation and hostility struck the minds and souls of millions all of a sudden, like lightning fallen from heavens. Already, changes in thoughts and attitudes can be felt, but concrete tangible results are yet to follow. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the West Bank and Gaza. While visions of a prosperous future for all are being sought, even a glimpse of any neighborhood of a West Bank town or a Gazan camp shows how far we are from achieving our goal. The act of building here is yet to start, and the foundations are yet to be laid.

This fact is apparent for all, but for architects, it is particularly alerting. Not only that the scope of redemption for an economy halted for over forty years is enormous, but what is more fundamental is that there seems to be developing a sense of priorities within the communities in West Bank and Gaza where only the strictly direct approach of solving existing problems could be undertaken. While this might be understandable due to limited resources and economic hardship, it could lead eventually to overlooking much of the fundamentals needed for starting a new era of development.

Architects have a vital role to play here. However, this role needs radical analysis and definition. During the past forty years or so, the role of architects was identical with contracting businesses. The architect's 'hat' covered the wide and varied areas of design, supervision and construction. This clearly led to the decline of architecture as a discipline and a practice, undermining in the way the status of architects within the community. In most scenarios we find that architects, if at all needed, would not be considered for other than the very basic architectural and structural drawings, and the master mason would be the most authorized by the client for decision making on site.

In the past two years since the peace process, some actions have been made for enhancing the situation. The association of engineers based in Jerusalem have been reactivated, taking upon its shoulders revitalizing the role of architects, and engineers in general, to face the challenges necessitated by the new era. Architects now have the sole responsibility of design and supervision, leaving the tasks related to contracting to others. Municipalities have been informed of the new situation, and all building permits issued now need to have the signature of a full team of registered architects and engineers. These are some serious steps taken towards rectifying the misgivings of the past situation, but to what extent can these be fruitful without a community wide awareness on the role of architects in the new developments coming ahead?

So far, architects in Gaza and the West Bank in general are assuming their everyday practice as if nothing is changing. Much of the big hopes and promises of large investments and nation wide development remain to be seen. Other than the introduction of new routines of practice, few examples over the recent past show a change in attitude within architects to introduce a new architectural identity fit for the new era. Architects and professionals are still considered as the means towards fulfilling routine bureau obligations, while the full authority at site remains in the hands of clients and master builders. Old means are deeply saturated within the community that any attempt towards improving the situation requires massive efforts not only in changing routines, but what is more important, in educating people to have new perception of the built environment, finding way to a driving force to look for the better in terms of the practical solutions offered for the various situations. Such appeal would be hopeless unless architects themselves are prepared to rise for the challenge and assume their full responsibility, breaking up with past practices, finding way to a new code of practice based upon quality control, architectural uniqueness and creativity. Architects in the West Bank an Gaza are still to prove the full potential of their capabilities and involvement in the shaping of the future. The initiative in this regard has to be for architects.

Meanwhile, the sense of peace and security in the region is finding expression in various ways. A new American style restaurant and bar opened recently in Ramallah, gaining immediate popularity that has not been common here before. Much of the success of this enterprise has been attributed to the unique design and attention to details in both the external facade and elements of interior decoration. Here, style and uniqueness is seen as an integral part of development, a well recognized fact worldwide, but largely abandoned thus far in this part of the world. Elements of change are starting to emerge, and other examples are sure to follow suit.

In another direction, visions of new developments which address the needs of the new era are emerging. A 10 storey Housing complex in Ramallah is expected to rise in the near future. This complex will house 78 families, providing them with all basic needs and facilities of underground parking, children playground, bicycle track, function halls, a kindergarten, and an adjacent department store. The complex is designed to both fulfill the needs of its inhabitants, and create a piece of class architecture. Staggered masses of various size apartments, some duplexes with double volume terraces. Critical analysis of such attempts is yet to follow, but what is sure is that the scale, scope and nature of such projects is new to the area. What is more important though is that the underlying methodology undertaken in the design of this project, based upon standard and uniqueness beyond the direct need of providing housing, is emerging as the central theme in the architectural procedure.

Just to mention other projects in the same direction, we can refer to a high-rise commercial building in central Ramallah, a school in Zababdeh north of the West Bank, and a housing project containing 12 semi-villa residential units in Ramallah. These are just examples of attempts being made towards creating new architectural identity in the region. Such attempts have been inspired by the peace process going underway. However, much of these are destined to remain on the drawing boards unless real peace and security is established. Meanwhile, we can only hope to continue to address the question of architecture so that when the time comes, everyone, architects and common people alike, will be prepared to assume their responsibilities in the ways which are best for peace, society, and the built environment.

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