Last edited 24 Jan 2021

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.