Palestinian housing project
In January 2017, the award-winning architecture and urban design practice Weston Williamson + Partners (WW+P) released designs for an innovative incremental apartment model in response to the growing need for affordable housing in the West Bank and Gaza.
An estimated 70% of households cannot afford the average house price and neither do they require the size of property that is generally on offer.
Using data collected from surveys commissioned by The Office of the Quartet and the World Bank, WW+P developed a conceptual design to provide people with long-term homes.
The Palestinian housing marketing is currently characterised by over supply at the high end and under supply at the lower end; large-scale affordable housing schemes are needed to satisfy demand.
The WW+P apartments are designed to grow with their inhabitants. The basic units are placed around a central circulation core and include generous outdoor spaces. Floor slabs are constructed to allow for expansion into these outdoor spaces as the family and its income gets bigger. Pre-fabricated panels allow different configurations to create exciting forms and massing, and deep overhangs provide necessary shade.
Units have been designed around the needs of family structures - from one to three bedrooms, with space that is flexible but segregated. Living spaces have generous daylight and views of the terraces.
The ground floor of the units could contain communal facilities and areas for larger gatherings, creating a real sense of community.
Images and content courtesy of Weston Williamson + Partners.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.