Schools for Palestine
Architecture Competitions 2024
ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION
Schools for Palestine
BRIEF
Mobile Schools: an urgent need in Palestine
The conflict in the West Bank has led to severe hardships for the Palestinian people, especially through the intentional and organized demolition of buildings, including schools, disrupting children’s education and morale.
The urgency of the situation has prompted us to launch an international architecture competition to design innovative, mobile schools for the West Bank that can be easily relocated and reassembled if they receive a demolition order.
By participating, you not only contribute to architectural innovation and education, but you also support the Palestinian people by helping the NGO Wallah We Can build the winning project and replicate it wherever needed.
Join us in standing with Palestine, raising awareness, and making a tangible difference.
Demolition Orders: a Dire Consequence of Occupation
One of the most unfair situations faced by the Palestinian people is the demolition of their buildings. This includes schools and sometimes even whole villages.
A May 3 report from the UN’s Middle East Peace Process Office states that Palestinian population growth of 2. 4% requires 600 new schools by 2025. However only 68 schools have been built since 2020, with many later facing demolition orders.
In this competition we will help Khan Al Ahmar, a village that faces a general demolition order.
Khan Al Ahmar: An Example of Resistance and Resilience
The village of Khan Al Ahmar is located in Area C of the West Bank and is home to the Bedouin Jahalin tribe, who were expelled from the Naqab Desert in the 1950s.
The community faces severe challenges, including a lack of basic services like electricity and water, and has been subject to demolition orders since 2009.
This is why the competition will focus on designing mobile schools, ensuring that education in Khan Al Ahmar continues even in the face of demolition orders.
Mobile Schools: an Innovative Solution for Education
This international architecture competition seeks innovative designs for mobile schools in the West Bank to ensure uninterrupted education for Palestinian children.
Participants should focus on modularity, quick deployment, and using lightweight, portable, and locally sourced materials for easy relocation in case of demolition threats.
We invite participants to challenge norms, innovate, and critically explore sustainable, resilient, and locally relevant materials and construction techniques.
We look forward to your visionary solutions and impactful contributions.
AWARDS
• 1st Prize: €6,000 + Project Construction
• 2nd Prize: €2,000
• 3rd Prize: €1,000
• 2 Special Honorable Mentions of €500 each
• 10 Honorable Mentions
SCHEDULE
• August 12 - September 11: Early Bird Registration
• September 12 - October 9: Standard Registration
• October 10 - November 6: Extended Registration
• November 7 - December 2: Final Call Registration
• December 2: Submission Deadline
• December 21: Winners Announcement
