Regenerative Architecture for Post War Gaza
ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EMERGENT TECHNOLOGIES AND DESIGN 2023-2024
Architectural Association, 2024 36 Bedford Square, London WC1B3ES
Architectural Association (Inc), Registered charity No. 311083 Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No. 171402
REGENERATIVE ARCHITECTURE FOR POST WAR GAZA
Afaf Shamieh
M. Sc Candidates
M. Arch Canditates
Founding Director
Course Directors
Studio Tutors
Diane Angelica Diaz
Mais Alrim Marouf
Ashna Negandhi
Dr. Michael Weinstock
Dr. Elif Erdine
Dr. Milad Showkatbakhsh
Alvaro Velasco Perez
Lorenzo Santelli
Paris Nikitidis
Felipe Oeyen
Fun Yuen
ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
GRADUATE SCHOOL PROGRAMMES
PROGRAMME: EMERGENT TECHNOLOGIES AND DESIGN
YEAR: 2023-2024
COURSE TITLE: MArch. Dissertation
DISSERTATION TITLE: Ground-Up
STUDENT NAMES: Mais Alrim Marouf (MArch)
Ashna Negandhi (MArch)
Afaf Shamieh (MSc)
Diane Angelica Diaz (MSc)
DECLARATION:
SIGNATURE OF THE STUDENTS:
“I certify that this piece of work is entirely my/ our and that my quotation or paraphrase from the published or unpublished work of other is duly acknowledged.”
(Mais Alrim Marouf) (Ashna Negandhi )
DATE: 10 January 2025
We express our deepest gratitude to our course founder Dr. Michael Weinstock, as well as our co-directors: Dr. Elif Erdine and Dr. Milad Showkatbakhsh, along with our tutors: Felipe Oeyen, Paris Nikitidis, Lorenzo Snatelli, Dr. Alvaro Velasco Perez, and Fun Yue for their invaluable support and guidance throughout this year and our thesis journey. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the Said Foundation Scholarship for funding our material experimentation and testing. Lastly, we are profoundly grateful to our family and friends for their continuous encouragement and support.
The war in Gaza City has triggered a domino effect of ecological devastation, threatening both the survival of its people and the environment. With the aquifer, the primary source of water, severely compromised and the soil extensively degraded, addressing food and water security emerges as an essential response to the environmental degradation. Ground-Up addresses the gap in rebuilding efforts that often compartmentalize the urgent need for environmental rehabilitation by proposing a new approach to designing infrastructure that prioritizes ecosystem regeneration.
The gap between ecology and architecture is addressed in a post-war context by establishing a 30-year rehabilitation framework that integrates structure, environment, and community. Placemaking, a key strategy for fostering community participation, integrates public programs with the core functions of the infrastructure. Along the timeline, the first part of the proposal, the project focuses on soil remediation, rehabilitating the agricultural infrastructure and fresh water generation, concluding with the second part of wastewater treatment plant and wetland creation, recharging the aquifer to close the ecological feedback loop. The project envisions placemaking in its initial phase by creating microclimate spaces and developing architectural typologies designed to foster these conditions. These typologies are strategically aggregated to establish the souq, greenhouses, agricultural lands and open spaces forming a cohesive plan. Retention ponds and water channels serve as the key connectors, linking these spaces into a unified system. This symbiotic relationship allows the programs to expand and adapt as the population grows along the Wadi masterplan, rehabilitating the destroyed agricultural lands.
Additionally, a low-tech material system for compressed earth blocks composed of locally available loam soil, date palm fibers, and magnesium oxide is employed, with its compressive properties leveraged in a vaulting systems architecture, enabling community involvement in the construction process. Architectural interventions extend beyond functionality, blending infrastructure with public spaces to foster a sense of ownership.
The masterplan unites the two phases by reassessing the flow of water and materials along the Wadi, proposing an integrated system that incorporates wetlands, wastewater management, retention ponds, power generation, agriculture, and solar stills. This interconnected system transforms the Wadi into a hub for ecological regeneration and community engagement. By reimagining the facility as an integral part of the public realm, the project shifts the focus from mere reconstruction to envisioning a regenerative and sustainable future for Gaza City.
Fig 1. Wadi Gaza
In the context of an ongoing ecocide in Palestine, the proposal envisions the development of a regenerative master plan along Wadi Gaza for a post-war scenario along a 30-year rehabilitation timeline. The first part of the plan integrates agricultural greenhouses and water from solar stills with communal amenities, all interconnected through a central spine featuring souks and marketplaces. This central axis incorporates a retention pond that ultimately connects to the wetland system and the waste water treatment plant proposed in the later part of the timeline. This integration strengthens the connection between soil and water rehabilitation processes, promoting placemaking through the creation of open microclimate spaces shaped by architectural interventions, while actively encouraging community engagement. Military operations destroy agricultural lands and water infrastructure, exacerbating climate change’s effects on the land. Accelerated degradation of the soil and water threatens to render the land infertile and unsuitable for agriculture and destroys the existing biodiversity, reducing its habitability, and raises critical concerns about food security.
The lack of viable water resources is a significant cause of inhabitability. The coastal aquifer, the region’s only source of fresh water, significantly depends on Wadi Gaza to recharge and maintain its groundwater levels.1 The Wadi at present is not suitable for human use or irrigation for farmlands due to pollution from dumping solid waste and the discharge of wastewater and toxic chemicals. Pollution creates an undesirable positive feedback loop* between the soil and water. In this context, the water pollutes the soil, which becomes infertile. With a shortage of vegetation due to the contaminated soil, it is then unable to serve its purpose as a natural filter for the water seeping in. The proposed master plan as an insertion to
the Wadi ecosystem aims to mitigate this feedback loop.
The architecture is used as an agent to bridge the gap between the built environment and local ecology establishing a regenerative system that integrates greenhouses and retention pond water systems with the community ensuring food security and supporting ecological balance. Low-tech construction methods utilizing soil and clay as a material system intend to increase community involvement and decrease dependency on externally sourced building materials. The thesis challenges the role of architecture as a tool for rehabilitation by developing a model framework for establishing a network of connections between the structure, the environment, and the users, which will guide the design process for developing a new public building typology.
Sources:
1. “Responding to the Water Crisis in Gaza,” World Bank, accessed June 8, 2024, https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/video/2022/11/15/responding-to-the-water-crisis-in-gaza.
*Positive feedback loop: in which a change in a given direction causes additional change in the same direction. For example, an increase in the concentration of a substance causes feedback that produces continued increases in concentration.
Biology LibreTexts. “4.4: Feedback Loops,” July 4, 2020. https://bio. libretexts.org/Courses/Lumen_Learning/Anatomy_and_Physiology_I_(Lumen)/04%3A_Module_2-_Homeostasis/4.04%3A_Feedback_Loops.
Definitions:
“‘Souk/Souq”: “Describes the marketplace or a bazaar in the Mediterranean region.” (Cambridge Dictionary).
Source: Middle East Eye
OVERVIEW
2-1 Intersections of Ecology & Architecture
2-2 Cultural Landscape
2-3 What Makes a Place?
2-4 Discussion
A profound symbiosis emerges in the complex interplay between ecology and architecture, producing and shaping landscapes where elements coexist and mutually reinforce one another. Traditionally regarded as a testament to human functionality, architecture now assumes a new role, actively engaging with environmental and ecological considerations. Simultaneously, ecology is an influential agent in urban development, guiding design principles and shaping narrative contexts. This evolving dialogue between architecture and ecology is essential and transformative, propelling urban futures towards sustainability.
The relationship between ecology and architecture has evolved significantly in recent decades, catalyzed by challenges such as resource depletion, climate change, and environmental degradation. Increasing awareness of these environmental issues has shifted towards integrating ecological principles into architectural practice. This evolution was driven by the urgent imperative for sustainable development strategies that harmonize human habitation with natural systems.
In response to the impacts of architecture and urbanism on the environment, the question of ecology in architecture has been a topic of consideration since the late 19th century, when it initially developed as a biological discipline called “ Emergence.”*2 It was further
explored by radical movements in the 1960s and early 1970s during the Age of Ecology*.3 They began to view architecture as part of more extensive networks and systems rather than in isolation.
The question of ecology underwent significant transformations following the Cold War, becoming closely associated with sustainability and the development of environmental consciousness during the ecological turn. In contemporary architectural theories and practices, the intersection of ecology and architecture can be identified through three main discourses: one focuses on the expressions of natural processes, another on the values of vitalism related to life force, and the third emphasizes sensuality and experience.4
Nowadays, the roles of trade globalization, environmental complexity, and systems thinking significantly shape architectural solutions. These solutions reflect cultural trends and shifts towards growth and progress. Historically, ecological architecture was dominated by a tecnoscientific approach focused on energy performance and renewables. Historically, ecological architecture was
dominated. Historically, ecological architecture was dominated by a tecno-scientific approach focused on energy performance and renewables. However, in recent decades, ecology in architecture has come to be seen as both a social concern and an ideology rather than merely a technical matter.
Analyzing the concept of ecology involves understanding the meanings behind its biological and political aspects to grasp recurring themes within the ecological discourse. The 2019 Oslo Architecture Triennial (OAT) marked a shift in architectural discourse by critiquing current practices and emphasizing ecological and environmental ideas. It explored new alternatives for a cultural economy and questioned architecture’s role, suggesting it should focus on sustainability, material cultivation, and civic engagement rather than serving as a financial tool.5 These principles and questions represent a significant evolution in the field, reflecting a deeper integration of ecological thought into architectural practice.
In the proposed project, the role of architecture is intricately intertwined with the active engagement of architects and the seamless integration of research, design, and practice.6 It highlights this integration, offering a historical perspective often overlooked in professional practice, challenging traditional views of architect-client relationships.
Our approach strongly focuses on user participation, recognizing its pivotal role in shaping the design process and outcomes. By examining critical moments of change in architectural theory and methods, we reveal how these relationships have evolved, adapting to socio-political and economic dynamics. This approach enriches the functionality and appropriateness of the designs as well as fosters environments that resonate deeply with the communities they serve. As we navigate these complexities, our design philosophy remains steadfast in its commitment to resilient architectural practices that respond effectively to contemporary challenges, ensuring our architecture is relevant and transformative in meeting the diverse needs of the society.
Sources:
2. Andrew Jamison, The Making of Green Knowledge: Environmental Politics and Cultural Transformation (Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2001).
3. Jamison.
4. Penny Lewis, “The Impact of Ecological Thought on Architectural Theory,” n.d.
5. “2019,” Oslo Architecture Triennale, accessed July 20, 2024, https://www.oslotriennale.no/archive/2019.
6. Kenneth Frampton, Modern Architecture: A Critical History, 3rd ed., rev.enlarged, World of Art (London: Thames and Hudson, 1992).
In Gaza, the interconnected relationship between ecology, architecture, and the user is severely disrupted due to the extensive destruction of both natural landscapes and urban infrastructure. This degradation has been further exacerbated by historical and ongoing architectural practices that involve excavating and disposing of soil, sealing the land’s surface, and damaging deeper ground layers.7 These practices impair crucial ground functions such as humus formation, habitats for flora and fauna, and water infiltration.8 Consequently, this highlights the urgent need for a more sustainable and integrated approach to architecture and urban development.
It is essential to understand land not merely as a construction site but as a vital element supporting and enveloping architectural endeavours. Recognizing the significance of soil, architects should integrate both “building culture” and “ground culture” into their designs, as advocated by scholars like E.R. Landa and C. Feller.9 By drawing inspiration from Capability Brown’s principles, which emphasize the symbiotic relationship between landscape elements and architecture, we can foster sustainable practices that blend structures seamlessly into their surroundings.10 This approach involves breaking down the traditional barriers between built and natural environments, transforming the ground into a dynamic component that interacts with architectural forms. Such considerations are vital, given humanity’s profound dependency on soil and land for urban development and placemaking.
Definitions:
“‘Emergence”: “Describes the period when ecology became a biological discipline and a political position at the end of the 19th century.” (Lewis, 2019 ; 229).
“Age of Ecology”: “When ecology formed part of the highly influential radical movements in the USA and in Europe” (Lewis, 2019 ; 229 ).
Hence, the architect’s role extends beyond constructing better environments and urban fabric. It is imperative that architects design with a focus on positively contributing to ecological health and resilience, assuming responsibility for soil health.
In pursuing environmental stewardship and the harmonious integration of architecture with its surroundings, the profound impacts of soil management practices and water management principles are inseparable, each serving as a cornerstone in sustaining the ecological vitality of natural systems. Water, akin to soil, transcends its role as a mere resource to become a dynamic force within the ecological framework. Acknowledging the inherent synergies between soil conservation and water management is imperative for architectural practice to embed pioneering water-sensitive design principles within soil remediation strategies. This symbiosis nurtures environmental resilience, forging a pathway towards the graceful coexistence of natural ecosystems and built environments. The intricate interplay among soil, water, and architecture facilitates land remediation processes and inspires the rejuvenation and envisioning of futures beyond distressed landscapes.
Sources:
7. “UNOSAT Gaza Strip Agricultural Damage Assessment - January 2024 - Occupied Palestinian Territory | ReliefWeb,” accessed May 8, 2024, https://reliefweb.int/map/occupied-palestinian-territory/unosat-gaza-strip-agricultural-damage-assessment-january-2024.
8. Edward R. Landa and Christian Feller, eds., Soil and Culture (Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2009), https://doi. org/10.1007/978-90-481-2960-7.
9. Landa and Feller.
10. Jonathan Finch and Jan Woudstra, eds., Capability Brown, Royal Gardener (York: White Rose University Press, 2020), https:// doi.org/10.22599/CapabilityBrown.
Excavating
Disposing Soil
Sealing the lands Surface
Damaging deeper ground layers
Once known for its sandy beaches, orchards, citrus groves, and strawberry fields, Gaza now lies in ruins. The Israeli war on Gaza has transformed the landscape, stripping it of its former beauty and causing severe environmental damage. Bombs have ravaged not only human lives but also olive trees, fields, and lemon groves, leading to widespread ecological destruction.11
The systematic destruction affecting underground reservoirs, surface soils, coastal waters, and the atmosphere, has turned agricultural lands into dust, collapsed wastewater systems, and unleashed over 45,000 polluting missiles and bombs, with impacts expected to persist for generations. These efforts aim to render Gaza uninhabitable. Environmental damage is strategically utilized to create a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as noted by Giora Eiland, former head of the Israeli National Security Council.12
Ecocide
The concept of ecocide pertains to extensive and lasting ecological devastation, proposed as a potential international crime. Although it is not officially acknowledged in international law, Ecocide is legally defined by the Stop Ecocide Foundation as “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.”13
Sources:
11. United Nations Environment Programme (2024). Environmental impact of the conflict in Gaza: Preliminary assessment of environmental impacts. Nairobi. wedocs.unep. org/20.500.11822/45739
12. “Influential Israeli National Security Leader Makes the Case for Genocide in Gaza,” Mondoweiss, November 20, 2023, https://mondoweiss.net/2023/11/influential-israeli-national-security-leader-makes-the-case-for-genocide-in-gaza/.
13. “Stop Ecocide International,” Stop Ecocide International, July 3, 2024, https://www.stopecocide.earth.
Destruction of agricultural land and infrastructure
“Jaffa 1933, a Palestinian woman of the Gharghour family gathering oranges in a basket. She would take them to a compoud where they were boxed and shipped to Germany”
Gaza was supported by abundant water resources from the coastal awuifer and the Wadi Gaza
Pre-20th Century
Pre-Nakba
The World Health Orgnization
Recommends 100 litres per capita per day
20th Century
1948 Nakba
1960s-1980s
Israeli occupation of Gaza
%90-%95 of Gaza’s aquifer is contaminated by Sewage chemcials and Seawater
1980s-1990s
Israeli occupation of Gaza
Total collapse of Gaza’s fragile civil infrastructure, including: Waste disposal, sewage treatment, fuel supplies,and water management.
626
399 Wells Agricultural Warehouses
21st Century 21st Century 2023-Present 2007-2022
Herbicides
“Gaza is now uninhabitable as the war continues, 85 % of the population is displaced and more than 20,000 dead with highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded ”United Nations
Destruction of tree cover and farmland.
Bombardment
Aerial bombardments in Gaza release heavy metals that are harmful to human health due to their persistence and bio-accumulative properties. Contaminating local food chains and turning food sources into hazardous substances.
A study by British and American researchers found that the initial two months of the ongoing war produced more greenhouse gas emissions than the annual carbon footprints of over 20 climate-vulnerable countries.14 Additionally, Human Rights Watch reports that using white phosphorus has long-lasting environmental effects, penetrating soil, destroying ecosystems, and vegetation for years.15
Sources:
14. Nina Lakhani and Nina Lakhani Climate justice reporter, “Emissions from Israel’s War in Gaza Have ‘Immense’ Effect on Climate Catastrophe,” The Guardian, January 9, 2024, sec. World news, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/09/emissions-gaza-israel-hamas-war-climate-change.
15. Bill Van Esveld, “Rain of Fire,” Human Rights Watch, March 25, 2009, https://www.hrw.org/report/2009/03/25/rain-fire/ israels-unlawful-use-white-phosphorus-gaza.
Over the 15-year Israeli blockade, agriculture has been crucial for Palestinian resilience in Gaza, with 25% of arable land supporting essential food security. However, since 2002, these lands have been consistently targeted under policies justified by security concerns.16 During the 2008-2009 war, one-third of Gaza’s agricultural lands were damaged by the IDF17. Currently, Human Rights Watch has been documenting the ongoing destruction, including deliberate flattening of farms and greenhouses, through satellite imagery. Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nation data highlights the extensive destruction of agricultural infrastructure and resources across Gaza. 44.3% of greenhouses have been destroyed, with significant damage concentrated in areas such as Khan Younis, Deir Al-Balah, and Rafah.18 Agricultural infrastructure has also been heavily affected, with the destruction of 606 home barns, 214 ponds, and 292 agricultural warehouses. The intensity of damage varies across the region, with some areas experiencing up to 75-100% destruction.19 Additionally, 68% of cropland has been severely damaged, with many regions showing over 50% loss in key agricultural zones.20 These figures underscore the devastating impact on food security and livelihoods, highlighting the urgent need for rebuilding efforts and sustainable support for the agricultural sector. The war has transformed Palestinian fields into barren expanses, erasing environmental landmarks and altering the landscape, making the prospect of return after displacement increasingly daunting.
The destruction of infrastructure in Gaza, is used as a tool of control, an environmental destruction. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, 60% of wastewater treatment facilities have been destroyed.21 Additionally, the lack of electricity exacerbates environmental degradation. The destruction of wastewater treatment plants has led to widespread pollution. Satellite imagery analyzed by Wim Zwijnenburg22 reveals significant contamination of groundwater and soil with heavy metals, toxic waste, and fine particles, making the air hazardous and increasing disease transmission.23 Additionally, around 70,000 tons of solid waste have
piled up in makeshift dumps, further polluting water and soil.24 Noting that, increased wastewater discharge into the Mediterranean Sea poses significant ecological risks.25 Hindering Palestinian recovery and perpetuates displacement. The destruction of infrastructure has intensified, leading to ecological catastrophe, including undrinkable water and devastated agricultural lands.26
In summary, Gaza is dealing with severe environmental challenges exacerbated by the ongoing war, with extensive land, water, and air pollution. Immediate efforts are imperative to mitigate these impacts and safeguard public health and ecological integrity.
Sources:
16. “Policy of Destruction: House Demolition and Destruction of Agricultural Land in the Gaza Strip | B’Tselem,” accessed July 21, 2024, http://www.btselem.org/publications/summaries/200202_policy_of_destruction.
17. “Policy of Destruction.”
18. Angham (FAORNE) Abdelmageed, “Update on the Situation in Gaza and Red Sea,” n.d.
19. Abdelmageed.
20. Abdelmageed.
21. “‘No Traces Of Life’: Israel’s Ecocide In Gaza 2023-2024,” accessed July 19, 2024, https://forensic-architecture.org//investigation/ecocide-in-gaza.
22. “PAX_War_and_Garbage_in_Gaza.Pdf,” accessed September 15, 2024, https://paxforpeace.nl/wp-content/uploads/ sites/2/2024/07/PAX_War_and_Garbage_in_Gaza.pdf.
23. “UNOSAT Gaza Strip Agricultural Damage AssessmentJanuary 2024 - Occupied Palestinian Territory | ReliefWeb.”
24. “War and Garbage in Gaza: The Public Health and Environmental Crisis from Widespread Solid Waste Pollution - Occupied Palestinian Territory | ReliefWeb,” July 18, 2024, https:// reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/war-and-garbage-gaza-public-health-and-environmental-crisis-widespread-solid-waste-pollution.
25. agreenerlifeagreenerworld, “Analysis: Ecocide in Gaza: Who Will Hear and Heal Its Dying Environment?,” A Greener Life, a Greener World (blog), April 11, 2024, https://agreenerlifeagreenerworld.net/2024/04/11/analysis-ecocide-in-gaza-who-will-hear-andheal-its-dying-environment/.
26. United Nations Environment Programme, Environmental Impact of the Conflict in Gaza: Preliminary Assessment of Environmental Impacts (United Nations Environment Programme, 2024), https://wedocs.unep.org/xmlui/handle/20.500.11822/45739.
54.8% of buildings in the Gaza Strip were likely damaged or destroyed by 9th of March, 2024
Damaged Cropland Area (Ha) By Governorate
NORTH GAZA
GAZA
DEIR AL-BALAH
KHAN YOUNIS
NORTH
GAZA
DEIR
KHAN
RAFAH
Damaged Cropland Area (Ha) By Categories
GAZA
DEIR
KHAN YOUNIS
RAFAH
Damaged wells by Governorate
GAZA
DEIR
KHAN
Damaged Greenhouses Area (Ha) by Governorate
2-1.3 GAZA’S REBIRTH
From beneath the rubble and the ravaged landscape, Gaza’s rebirth will be realized through the urgent need to rebuild and rehabilitate, allowing people to envision a rebuilt Gaza and return to their lands. This vision restores culture and daily life within a new, public building typology that emerges from the ruins to rehabilitate the land and provide a place for its people. It is for people to dream and imagine a better future.
In the post-war scenario, architecture emerges as a powerful tool for transformation and identity. It challenges colonial narratives and reconstructs human living conditions to promote resilience. By addressing social, cultural, and environmental dimensions, we reimagine and reshape the destructed environment through collective intelligence, knowledge exchange, and abundant power, skills, and education.27
This architectural resilience marks a shift in the reconstruction approach, introducing architecture as a tool for community strength, challenging traditional practices, and advocating for visibility rather than invisibility, as emphasized by Nasser Golzari (2023).28 Moreover, the proposal addresses the ecological, social, and environmental catastrophes, creating a
social, and environmental catastrophes, creating a framework that guides people to start anew.29 The rebuilding process will focus not only on the physical but also on human living conditions, the water, land, and sky, bringing a sense of agency back to the people’s lives. Rebuilding Gaza is not just about physical structures; it is about giving voice to the people, telling their stories through art, architecture, and the landscape of a city that has endured profound destruction.30
Sources:
27. “UNOSAT Gaza Strip Agricultural Damage AssessmentJanuary 2024 - Occupied Palestinian Territory | ReliefWeb.”
28. “A Foot on the Earth and a Hand in the Sky: Yara Sharif and Nasser Golzari on Rebuilding Gaza – KoozArch,” accessed July 19, 2024, https://koozarch.com/interviews/a-foot-on-the-earthand-a-hand-in-the-sky:-yara-sharif-and-nasser-golzari-on-rebuilding-gaza.
29. “A Foot on the Earth and a Hand in the Sky.”
30. “A Foot on the Earth and a Hand in the Sky.”
In Palestine, Architecture, urban form, and cities have long been closely connected to the natural landscape, creating a harmonious relationship between land, nature, and architecture. 31 However, this relationship was significantly disrupted during the Ottoman period and subsequent occupations, leading to a sense of loss and the urgent need for preservation. The interaction between the landscape and urban morphology, particularly the scale and form of urban fabrics, highlights the importance of scientific methods in analyzing the interplay between nature and urban development. 32
Gaza’s landscape incubates agriculture, geology, social order, and memory. Understanding the landscape requires an integrated approach that considers its processes, forms, context, and functions together, revealing it as a physical environment and a social structure. 33 Moreover, Gaza’s landscape reflects complex power dynamics influenced by Foucauldian ideas of visible and invisible control. Spatial and landscape design, shaped by both the visible and invisible forces, reveal broader power relations influenced by Orientalist, Western, and religious perspectives. 34
Gaza’s landscape is essential in sustaining Palestinian society’s material and cultural fabric, deeply tied with the people’s aspirations and struggles, the landscape is a vital part of daily life, reflecting and shaping the community’s identity. It serves as a public realm where social, economic, and cultural activities intersect, functioning not merely as a backdrop but as a dynamic environment where individuals gather, interact, and engage in the rhythms of life.
ecological and political pressures, the relationship between Palestinians and their landscape has become increasingly strained. The degradation of visible and invisible infrastructure destabilizes ecological balance, with lasting impacts. Rehabilitating the ecological system is essential to reconnect processes, forms, and functions, restoring the landscape’s ability to support cultural and ecological needs.
While international organizations have focused on rebuilding Gaza’s infrastructure and the Wadi (Valley) Area, they have often neglected integrating environmental, land, and cultural contexts. This oversight has impeded a comprehensive recovery, highlighting the urgent need to address the interplay between Gaza’s cultural landscapes and water systems. Restoring these interconnected landscapes is vital for both ecological balance and Palestinian people’s cultural and social well-being.
Sources:
31. “Tamari-Salim-Mountain-against-the-Sea-Essays-onPalestinian-Society-and-Culture-1.Pdf,” accessed July, 15, 2024, https://yplus.ps/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Tamari-SalimMountain-against-the-Sea-Essays-on-Palestinian-Society-and-Culture-1.pdf.
32. Johanna Adolfsson, The Power of the Palestinian Landscape : An Exploratory Study of the Functions of Power Using Aerial Image Interpretation, 2016, https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-131340.
33. Adolfsson.
34. Adolfsson.
Detachment from the landscape undermines moral grounding, given its role as a dynamic entity shaped by environmental, political, and cultural forces that reinforce narratives and territorial claims.
35 Amid growing
35. Wendy Ashmore, “Archaeological Landscapes: Constructed, Conceptualized, Ideational (A. Bernard Knapp and Wendy Ashmore) (1999),” Archaeologies of Landscape: Contemporary Perspectives, Edited by Wendy Ashmore and A. Bernard Knapp, Pp. 1-30. Blackwell, Oxford., January 1, 1999, https://www.academia. edu/5271922/Archaeological_Landscapes_Constructed_Conceptualized_Ideational_A_Bernard_Knapp_and_Wendy_Ashmore_1999_.
Wadi Gaza, a seasonal river that flows from east to west across Gaza, holds significant hydrological and social importance. Primarily active during the rainy winter months, the Wadi channels water from the mountain ridges, occasionally experiencing floods of up to three meters. This waterway is a crucial recharge zone for the coastal aquifer, Gaza’s primary natural water source. However, the aquifer faces severe challenges, including water shortages and seawater intrusion, exacerbated by groundwater over-extraction and reduced rainfall due to climate change. 36
Pluvial flooding is a natural occurrence along the Wadi area; however, climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of rainfall and subsequent flooding.37 Currently, the quality of water that recharges the aquifer is suffering due to water contamination and soil degradation, both worsened by pollution and ongoing war. Soil damage, resulting from activities such as razing, heavy vehicle movement, and bombing, further compounds the issue. Additionally, inadequate waste management, including overburdened landfills and open dumping, contributes to soil contamination, which, in turn, pollutes the water supply.38 This has rendered much of the groundwater unsuitable for agriculture and drinking, undermining its natural filtration capacity. Wells in the area increasingly show elevated chloride and nitrate levels, mainly due to waste discharge.
Clean water is essential for human consumption and Agriculture, the latter being a cornerstone of Gaza’s economy and culture. Most of Gaza’s land is dedicated to agriculture, with the Netherlands suggesting specific high-yield crops in its “High-Value Crops Programme” for Palestine. Primary and secondary crop types are planted in the area, and numerous cooperatives support the farming industry, which is both culturally and economically vital.39 However, as of April 2024, nearly 50% of the land has suffered significant damage, compromising the strained agricultural industry.40
36. World Bank. “Responding to the Water Crisis in Gaza.” Accessed June 8, 2024. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/video/2022/11/15/responding-to-the-water-crisis-in-gaza.
37. Al-Najjar, H., Purnama, A., Özkan, K. et al. Analysis of extreme rainfall trend and mapping of the Wadi pluvial flood in the Gaza coastal plain of Palestine. Acta Geophys. 70, 2135–2147 (2022).
38. World Bank. “Responding to the Water Crisis in Gaza.” Accessed June 8, 2024. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/video/2022/11/15/responding-to-the-water-crisis-in-gaza.
39. Netherlands Representative Office to the Palestinian Authority. “Multi-Annual Strategic Plan for the Palestinian Territories 2014-2017,” December 2013.
Recognising the severity of the situation (even before the current war), the UNDP finalised a master plan in 2019 to rehabilitate the Wadi. The proposal aspires to restore the ecosystem and reduce pollution while providing spaces for recreational and economic activity. Though the intent is holistic, the system’s sustainability is questioned as the planned spaces have little to no relation or contribution to the rehabilitation processes. Protected zones are first established along the Wadi’s extent and categorised as Protected Zones A and B with a buffer zone for highvalue agricultural areas. 41
The proposal categorizes the infrastructure into three main types: blue, green, and red, each representing distinct functions and emphasizing the separation between public amenities and infrastructural facilities.
The proposed core areas for the masterplan are spread out along the extent of the wadi with the following spaces:
Central Gaza Wastewater Treatment Plant in Bureij was built and inaugurated on March 2, 2023, with the capacity to treat 60,000 cubic meters of wastewater from eleven communities with 1 million inhabitants.42 High-value agricultural land is proposed as the backdrop of the entire masterplan, with contour plowing methods. 43
Sources:
40. “UNOSAT - FAO Gaza Strip Cropland Damage Assessment - May 2024 - Occupied Palestinian Territory | ReliefWeb,” June 21, 2024. https://reliefweb.int/map/occupied-palestinian-territory/unosat-fao-gaza-strip-cropland-damage-assessment-may-2024.
41. United Nations Development Programme, and Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People. “Natural Park and Greenway: Development of a Comprehensive Master Plan for the Wadi Gaza Area,” n.d.
42. Deutsches Vertretungsbüro Ramallah. “The Federal Republic of Germany through KfW in Partnership with the Palestinian Water Authority Supports the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility in Improving Wastewater Treatment in the Central Area of Gaza with a Budget of 86.6 Million Euros,” March 2, 2023.
43. United Nations Development Programme and Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People, “Natural Park and Greenway: Development of a Comprehensive Master Plan for the Wadi Gaza Area,” n.d.
The master plan aims to connect the urban environment with the river and wetland to create a public space for the community to enjoy and engage in recreation, amusement and relaxation. The overlying goal was to create a vision of a future where growth, development and success are possible. The vision seems grand but lacks a proper connection between the aspects they aspire to connect. The interactions between people, the environment and the facilities seem superficial, as a clear distinction between the different zones is evident in the proposed program. The utilitarian spaces such as the treatment plant, stormwater network, agricultural land and embankments, which are crucial to the rehabilitation, are far removed from the recreational and park spaces. The challenge with this type of approach, wherein the necessary utilities are considered back-of-house and hidden from the users, is that it alienates the essential functions from the community, preventing placemaking
from naturally developing for these functions. A more integrated vision is needed to bridge the gap and create intersections between the functions of both the front-ofhouse and back-of-house operations in relation to the landscape.
Emphasizing the need to integrate the rehabilitation of the built environment and natural landscape during the rebuilding of Gaza. This approach should focus on restoring land, soil, and water while incorporating a public cultural program harmonizing with Gaza’s natural landscapes, engaging the community in their daily lives and the region’s agricultural heritage. The processes of rehabilitation and placemaking are inseparable; fostering a sense of belonging, ownership, and renewal empowers the people and their land to flourish together. This integrated approach positions the landscape as a resilient domain, supporting the community across space and time.
The post-war reconstruction of Gaza underscores the urgent need for water and soil rehabilitation, with a focus on spatial quality, sustainability, and community integration. Agriculture, a key driver of water and soil health, operates in a dynamic feedback loop that requires a comprehensive approach. This project envisions a master plan that integrates water channeling to the wadi, wastewater recycling, and soil purification with agricultural supply systems. By addressing these interconnected elements, the plan aims to restore the natural environment, promote sustainable development, and strengthen community resilience.
Questioning the relationship between ecology and architecture reveals the need for integrated rehabilitation systems that prioritize user participation and the community’s role in design. Concealed infrastructure limits public awareness of its urban function, creating a disconnect between systems and the communities they serve. This lack of visibility challenges traditional compartmentalized planning and calls for integrated solutions. Placemaking bridges this divide, fostering a stronger connection between people and their environment.
A place extends beyond its physical location to encompass the meanings, experiences, and relationships that individuals attribute to it. 44 Public spaces evolved from
Roman community hubs to medieval markets, universities, and places of worship, later becoming utilitarian during the Industrial Revolution. Today, public buildings prioritize both utility and community, promoting well-being and social interaction central to placemaking. 45 According to Project for Public Spaces, a successful public place is defined by its accessibility, inclusivity, functionality, safety, comfort, identity, and engagement. These attributes make the space welcoming, multifunctional, and reflective of the community’s character.46
New Gourna Village, designed by Hassan Fathy in the 1940s, exemplifies sustainable, community-focused design. Fathy envisioned a self-sustaining village that integrated with the local environment, traditions, and economic realities, blending innovative methods with traditional architecture to create a desert-suited microclimate using vernacular materials and techniques.
47
Sources:
44. Ahmed S. Muhaisen, “Development of the House Architectural Design in the Gaza Strip,” ATHENS JOURNAL OF AR-CHITECTURE 2, no. 2 (March 31, 2016): 131–50, https://doi.org/10.30958/ aja.2-2-3.
45. Chronicles Uncovered: An Insight into Past Times. ‘The Colosseum: A Deep Dive into Ancient Roman Architecture’. Accessed 20 July 2024. https://oralhistory.ws/resources/unveiling-the-secrets-of-romes-colosseum/.
46. ‘What Is Placemaking?’ Accessed 20 July 2024. https:// www.pps.org/article/what-is-placemaking.
47. Leïla El-Wakil, “New Gourna Village 1942–1952, Architect Hassan Fathy : A Vision of Self-Building,” in Designing Modernity : Architecture in the Arab World 1945-1973 (JOVIS, 2022), 70, https://doi.org/10.1515/9783868598308-006.
Fathy’s design emphasized local materials and traditional methods, using adobe bricks for their affordability, availability, and thermal properties to maintain cool summers and warm winters. Inspired by Nubian architecture, he incorporated vaulted roofs and domes, eliminating costly scaffolding while enhancing functionality and aesthetics. New Gourna’s climateresponsive design created a self-sustaining microclimate with thick walls, compact clusters, shaded courtyards, and strategic windows for natural cooling and crossventilation. 48 The village layout balanced environmental efficiency and community well-being, featuring windcatchers, narrow streets, and staggered heights for shaded pathways and airflow. Communal spaces like marketplaces, mosques, and schools fostered cultural cohesion, while human-scale architecture respected traditions. Fathy also prioritized economic sustainability by involving residents in construction, reducing costs, and supporting traditional crafts to foster livelihoods and self-reliance. 49
However, the project faced challenges. Many residents resisted relocation, citing disruptions to their sociocultural and economic systems. Issues such as the durability of mud bricks, unfamiliar construction methods, and limited community involvement further complicated implementation. Critics argued that Fathy’s approach, while visionary, sometimes felt imposed, overlooking the practical needs and input of the villagers. Despite its challenges, the Village remains a landmark in sustainable design, inspiring architects with its use of local materials, climate-adaptive strategies, and community-focused planning. 50
In Gaza, where infrastructure, agriculture and public spaces have been devastated, integrating these principles into reconstruction encourages a building typology that introduces meaningful community spaces and environment into utilitarian facilities.
Sources:
48. Hasan Fathy, “ARCHITECTURE FOR THE POOR 49. Fathy.
50. The Editors, “Hassan Fathy and New Gourna,” JSTOR Daily, August 8, 2023, https://daily.jstor.org/hassan-fathy-andnew-gourna/.
51. ArchDaily. ‘MASSLAB Transforms Bragança Water Treatment Plant into Dynamic Public Space in Portugal’, 7 May 2024. https://www.archdaily.com/1016139/masslab-transforms-braganca-water-treatment-plant-into-dynamicpublic-space-in-portugal.
52. ArchDaily. ‘Concept WRRF Yixing Water Resource Recovery Facility / THAD SUP Atelier’, 19 February 2024. https://www. archdaily.com/1010818/concept-wrrf-yixing-thad-sup-atelier.
Two contemporary water treatment plant designs and a village master plan were analyzed to explore strategies for reimagining Gaza’s infrastructure and public realm. The ETAR Water Treatment Plant by MASSLAB and the WRRF Yixing Water Resource Recovery Facility demonstrate efforts to blend functionality with community-focused design. ETAR integrates into the landscape through adaptive reuse, featuring flexible rooftop public spaces that partially conceal utility processes.51
WRRF emphasizes material processes with a compact layout, combining treatment areas with public spaces like a café by a sedimentation tank and interactive courtyards.52 ETAR employs vertical segregation for zoning, while WRRF uses defined edges to engage the public. Both projects face challenges: ETAR’s uniform spaces may limit engagement, and WRRF’s rigid zoning could restrict adaptability. Nevertheless, they effectively combine infrastructure with placemaking, offering valuable insights for community-centered design.
Reimagining the public realm highlights placemaking as a key strategy for integrating spatial programs, user engagement, and environmental considerations in rebuilding Gaza. Rooted in vernacular practices and urban forms, the concept emphasizes smooth transitions between private and public spaces, fostering inclusive design through thoughtful spatial relationships. Inspired by Nabeel Hamdi’s advocacy for a bottom-up approach in The Place Maker’s Guide to Building Community, it highlights the importance of user input in shaping the design process.53 Additionally, it involves exploring local construction methods and material knowledge to cultivate ownership and belonging. Vernacular architecture, with courtyards as intermediary zones for social interaction and privacy, exemplifies dynamic spaces that seamlessly connect diverse spatial domains.
Building on Fathy’s ideologies and Palestinian cultural heritage, the proposal integrates courtyard spaces with a souk-inspired urban configuration, strategically positioned as a central communal spine. The souk fosters environmental, economic, social, and cultural exchanges while ensuring functional cohesion through seamless transitions between community zones, greenhouses, facilities, and utility spaces. Serving as a vibrant hub for commerce, social interaction, and community activities, its central placement connects key urban elements, creating an accessible, cohesive, and resilient framework that promotes engagement and integration.
Sources:
53. Hamdi, Nabeel. The Placemaker’s Guide to Building Community. London: Routledge, 2010. https://doi. org/10.4324/9781849775175.
54. “Tradition, Transformation, and Re-Creation in Two Marketplaces: Souq Al Wakrah and Souq Waqif, Qatar,” accessed January 3, 2025, https://www.academia.edu/77071056/Tradition_ Transformation_and_Re_creation_in_Two_Marketplaces_Souq_Al_ Wakrah_and_Souq_Waqif_Qatar.
55. “Tradition, Transformation, and Re-Creation in Two Marketplaces.”
56. “Projects – Arab Urban Development Institute,” accessed January 3, 2025, https://araburban.org/en/infohub/projects/.
57. Nabil Ibrahim El-Sawalhi and Hamed E. Abu Ajwa, “Mud Building Practices in Construction Projects in the Gaza Strip,” International Journal of Construction Management 13, no. 2 (January 2013): 13–26, https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2013.107732 09.
The souk embodies traditional architectural elements such as narrow alleys, courtyards, and vernacular materials, enhancing its identity while improving environmental performance through natural ventilation, thermal regulation, and shade.54 By incorporating local construction techniques, it reinforces cultural heritage and promotes sustainable practices, serving as a space of collective memory. Offering a diverse range of goods and services, from traditional crafts and agricultural products to modern commodities, the souk goes beyond its commercial function, evolving into a public realm for recreation, communal gatherings, social interactions, and serving as a vital connector between the agricultural infrastructure and the community.55 As a cultural cornerstone, it preserves traditions, fosters community spirit, and hosts performances and cultural events, celebrating Gaza’s identity and promoting belonging. Positioned as the central axis of the master plan, the souk connects public, agricultural, water and utility spaces, blending functionality, cultural expression, and environmental restoration.56 Reimagined as more than a marketplace, it symbolizes resilience, ecological integration, and community empowerment, embodying the spirit of sustainable urban regeneration.
In response to Gaza’s blockades and import restrictions on materials like cement and steel, the focus shifts to locally sourced materials and indigenous techniques. Power shortages and poor infrastructure further highlight the need for local resources. Gaza’s vernacular architecture has long used loam as a primary material,57 with thick stone or mud walls providing insulation against extreme temperatures. Loam’s plasticity allows for easy molding of bricks and components, supporting self-sufficiency, sustainability, and community participation by leveraging local skills and knowledge.
Learning from vernacular knowledge supports a bottomup approach, empowering the community to see the facility as rooted in the land and made by and for the people. The proposed rehabilitation plan must address the diverse and evolving needs of its timeline, encompassing both immediate and long-term objectives. This includes tackling urgent challenges such as reconstruction efforts, food security, and access to fresh water supply , while fostering the development of cultural and public spaces. Integrating infrastructure with communal facilities should strengthen cultural ties, raise awareness, and foster community ownership, creating a resilient framework for sustainable development and social cohesion.
Gaza’s revival hinges on rejuvenating its built environment and restoring the health of its ecosystem, including water, soil, and human well-being. Traditional rebuilding proposals often separate infrastructure from the critical need for environmental rehabilitation. This thesis bridges that gap by introducing a holistic approach to infrastructure design, prioritizing ecosystem regeneration and fostering a closer connection between users and their environment through a whole-systems design methodology.
The proposal outlines a 30-year rehabilitation plan, starting with immediate post-war recovery and evolving into long-term sustainable development through three interventions:
a. Global Network Generation: Establishing efficient systems for wetland, wastewater management, and agricultural development.
b. Local Site Network and Zoning: Creating a cohesive development that integrates recreational, educational, cultural, and economic spaces with retention ponds and fresh water systems blending built and natural environments.
c. Architectural Design: Incorporating placemaking principles, vernacular materials, and environmental strategies to enhance community engagement and ownership.
This framework addresses key questions:
1. How can a computational framework and low-tech material systems be developed to integrate public placemaking with ecological infrastructure in Wadi Gaza, defining a 30-year timeline that prioritizes agricultural growth, fresh water generation and soil remediation in the initial phases to restore and empower the community, which transitions to wastewater treatment and wetland creation in the later phases of the rehabilitation?
2. How can a novel compressed soil blocks fabrication system enhance community participation in the context of Gaza?
3. How can interconnected microclimatic spaces of souks and courtyards enhance placemaking, foster a sense of ownership, and human comfort in an infrastructural masterplan?
The thesis proposes a regenerative masterplan that reimagines the integration of agricultural greenhouses and water systems with communal hubs centered around the project’s spine: the souks. These elements transcend their functional roles, serving as vital catalysts for community regeneration. By blending ecological and communal systems, this model has the potential to redefine urban design, setting a new standard for sustainable and resilient cities.
OVERVIEW
3-1 Research Methods
3-2 Material Experimentation
3-3 Morphology Generation
3-4 Material Experimentation
3-5 Site Network and Zoning
3-6 Network Generation
The proposed project employs an adaptive methodology that integrates site-specific analysis and contextual factors, shifting from conventional top-down planning to a more responsive approach across various scales of the project. The research combined qualitative and quantitative data to comprehensively understand Gaza’s cultural, ideological, and contextual dimensions. Qualitative data was gathered from sources such as maps, historical records, scientific studies, government publications, and UN reports, while quantitative data, including physiological measurements, tests, and assessments, offered statistical insights into evolving environmental, cultural, and political contexts. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools like QGIS were utilized to generate topographical maps and spatial data and build information to support decisionmaking. For the Architectural program, the specifications of the infrastructural spaces were developed based on case studies, international standards, and calculations for food, fresh water and composting needs, allowing the generation of greenhouse and retention pond systems. Community activities were identified through assessing community needs and contextual analysis, categorized into recreational, souk, educational and prayer activities, which helped propose interventions aligned with both immediate necessities and long-term sustainability goals.
Infrastructure and community spaces were prioritized to facilitate the creation of microclimates that support placemaking. Design variations of the souk and courtyard were analyzed, focusing on contextual environmental factors such as sun and wind. The evaluation emphasized the ratio, orientation, and spatial arrangement of blocks to optimize microclimate generation. Universal Thermal Comfort Index (UTCI) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were employed to assess airflow, solar exposure, and shading. These analyses provided critical data for optimizing the morphology at both the local scale and the aggregation level.
Material Experimentation
Experiments were conducted to find the ideal ratios for creating a durable material using loam, date palm fibres, and magnesium oxide. These tests focused on compressive strength, tensile strength, and water resistance to ensure the mixture met construction standards and to study its limitations.
Brick Design and Production
The experiment’s first phase involved determining the optimal length of overhang for two bricks to combine into a two-layered brick capable of distributing loads evenly. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was used to compare the effectiveness of straight versus curved edges at the contact points.
In the second phase, the brick was fabricated using wood formwork that could help achieve its 1:1 scale geometry. The mixture was manually compressed into the form, and after removal, the bricks were cured to gain strength and durability. This repetitive process enhanced the production scale and contributed to soil rejuvenation through low-tech, sustainable methods.
Computational workflows and analysis methods provide the foundation for morphology generation. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) assesses vaulting system ratios, optimizing proportions for vaults and arches to ensure structural stability, efficiency, and adaptability to environmental and spatial conditions. Drawing inspiration from vernacular architecture, a kit of parts featuring diverse vaulting systems is developed, forming a comprehensive catalogue for scalable master plan growth. Microclimate integration is the driving factor for the aggregation of these components. Morphology generation is informed by a multi-objective optimization framework that incorporates spatial and environmental parameters. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations analyze human comfort and wind flow, offering critical insights to refine and optimize spatial configurations.
Spatial Analysis
Spatial Analysis dictates aggregation of kit of parts and typologies. This is optimized through the Wasp plugin for Grasshopper, enabling efficient connectivity and spatial organization of the different components.
Solar Analysis
Sunlight hours and solar radiation analysis, utilizing the Ladybug plugin for Grasshopper, analysis sunlight interaction with the design of the open spaces providing critical data to optimize microclimate gWeneration.
Shading Analysis
Shading analysis, performed using Grasshopper’s occlusion tools, evaluates the shading patterns within the open courtyards. This data is instrumental in refining the microclimate by balancing sunlight and shaded areas for thermal comfort.
Universal Thermal Comfort Index (UTCI)
The Ladybug plugin for Grasshopper is used to analyze microclimate conditions from the perspective of human comfort. It predicts perceived temperatures in the spaces by factoring in sun exposure, material properties, and spatial configurations, ensuring that the generated morphology is conducive to human comfort.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Wind direction are visualized and analyzed using CFD model by autodesk to understand wind behavior. This analysis informs decisions for selecting the final phenotype of the generated morphologies by optimizing airflow and reducing stagnation.
Each of these analyses contributes to the iterative design process, ensuring that the spatial configurations and environmental responses work cohesively to generate a functional and comfortable microclimate.
The zoning strategy for this thesis employs a multi-layered approach to develop an integrated and cohesive site plan. The generation of the microclimate development area was guided by environmental analyses of wind patterns, sun exposure, elevation, and slopes. These factors informed the placement of retention ponds within public plazas, strategically positioned based on walkability parameters. The pathways were generated using the aforementioned parameters with woolthread connecting and generating the final curve.
The placement of agricultural infrastructure units within the agricultural zone was determined through quantitative data calculations, ensuring sufficient capacity to meet the program’s needs. Once the zoning was established, the retention ponds were designed as a prominent site feature. These ponds, located in the central plaza generate microclimate and soften the boundaries between ecology and architecture, creating a harmonious interaction between nature and the built environment.
Using the zoning data, morphologies were aggregated across the site to create microclimatic favourable spaces. This aggregation was refined through a multiobjective optimization process. Key parameters included sunlight analysis, conducted using the Ladybug plugin to evaluate solar exposure in open areas; shading analysis, performed using Grasshopper’s occlusion tools to assess shadow patterns; and Universal Thermal Comfort Index (UTCI) analysis, which examined human comfort levels in open spaces using Ladybug.
The optimized placement of greenhouses informed the layout of water channel networks across the site. These networks serve as critical infrastructural components, connecting retention ponds and other features to support the integrated functionality of the site while further enhancing the microclimate.
Quantitative data and Geographic Information System (GIS) data were collected to provide a detailed understanding of the city’s urban fabric, considering population densities, destruction levels, structural compositions, environmental factors, and 3D spatial analysis. This informed a global strategy to enhance urban networks, with architectural interventions guided by contextual data and weighted assessments. On the masterplan level, the two networks—constructed wetlands and wastewater management—were designed using computational workflows that mimic natural biological growth patterns. On a regional level, a water channel network connecting to the retention ponds is designed using computational workflows. These networks were further refined through multi-objective optimization using the Wallacei plugin in Grasshopper, ensuring alignment with the project’s goals.
An environmental analysis incorporating water flow simulations, slope, and elevation calculations using the Bison plugin in Grasshopper informed the allocation of constructed wetlands. The connections between water bodies were also established through a meandering network generated by the Anemone plugin. The second network, focused on wastewater collection, was developed using contextualized data and points from the constructed wetlands network, optimized through the application of a Differential Growth Algorithm. This approach integrated variables such as differential diffusion rates, slope inclinations, and attractor/ repeller points, resulting in diverse spatial configurations influenced by environmental and operational factors. For the third network, inputs were taken from the location of the agricultural infrastructure on site, and the location of public plazas. The connection between these two elements was established using an optimized DiffusionLimited Aggregate (DLA) algorithm, creating an efficient and functional network for microclimate generation.
4-1 Introduction
4-2 Wadi Global Network
4-3 Morphology: Space Organization
4-4 Material Selection
4-5 Fabrication Design
4-6 Morphology Form Finding
4-7 Augmented Reality Conclusion
In the context of severe ecological destruction in Palestine, particularly within the Gaza Strip, the MSc phase proposal envisioned a new public building typology along Wadi Gaza to restore vital soil and water resources at the 30-year rehabilitation timeline. Military operations, pollution, and climate change devastated agricultural land and the region’s primary freshwater source, the coastal aquifer, by creating a damaging feedback loop in which polluted water degraded soil, which in turn lost its natural capacity to filter water. To break this cycle, the design integrated, large wastewater treatment and soil remediation within the architectural framework, along with wetland creation through low-tech, communityinvolved methods using local materials like clay and soil. By situating the ecological processes at the centre of the built environment, the project sought to redefine architecture’s role in restoring ecosystems and actively engaging communities in the recovery process.
The MSc phase proposal adopted a holistic approach by treating wastewater and soil remediation infrastructure as integral components of public space. Rather than isolating each facility, the design envisioned an interconnected network along the wadi, emphasizing placemaking to cultivate a sense of community ownership and attachment. Material experimentation, building morphology, and global networks integration were guided by the principle that each element belonged to one cohesive ecosystem. By weaving environmental restoration into the fabric of public life, the project demonstrated how architecture could
become a tool for ecological recovery while fostering deeper connections between communities and their environment. The public building typologies played a dual role: rehabilitating Wadi Gaza and acting as hubs for education, community interaction, and environmental responsibility. These functions ensured the sustainability of the project’s impact, fostering long-term ecological recovery and social cohesion.
The implementation of the project takes place during the 25th to 30th year of the rehabilitation timeline. While the M.Sc project envisioned placemaking at the 30-year mark, the M.Arch project proposes prioritizing ecological restoration and placemaking from the earlier stages, adopting a phased approach throughout the timeline. This phased approach allows the groundwork of ecological restoration to evolve, setting the stage for the establishment of these facilities. By the M.Sc phase, the groundwork laid during earlier stages, including placemaking, material development, and ecological stabilization, culminates in the formation of an interconnected architectural and ecological network, creating a whole ecosystem design. An overview of the M.Sc phase is necessary to establish the practices and data carried into the M.Arch phase, with material systems directly integrated while maintaining a strong connection to the wastewater treatment plant and wetland proposed in the M.Sc phase.
The redevelopment of the Wadi area focuses on three key components aimed at fostering sustainable and resilient urban growth through strategic architectural and infrastructural interventions. These strategies are informed by quantitative data, including rainfall metrics, energy usage, water consumption, agricultural needs, and GIS analysis, ensuring that interventions align with local requirements.
Treated waste water from existing WWTP Water sources and their Volume in Million Cubic Meter/year
Irrigation Water Deficit
Components
ARCHITECTURAL INTERVENTIONS AND THEIR ALLOCATIONS
CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS
URBAN NETWORKS DESIGN
Fig 40. Wadi Redevelopment Plan Parameters
water Tretament plants capacity in Million Cubic Meter/year
Treatment Plant (WWTP)
North Gaza Plant
Central Existing (Ejleen)
Architectural Typologies :
Revitalizing the Wadi involves designing and allocating architectural typologies based on a comprehensive assessment of local needs in wastewater management, power generation, and agricultural support. The interventions include:
i) Wastewater Treatment and Composting Facilities
a) Wastewater Treatment:
Facility design and capacity were determined by analyzing wastewater production, irrigation requirements, rainfall recovery, and groundwater usage. The analysis identified the need for two wastewater treatment plants. A replacement for the destroyed Central Gaza plant (Burij) with a capacity of 73 million cubic meters (MCM) per year.A new facility with a capacity of 82.5 MCM per year addressing the region’s water deficit. 58
b) Composting Facility:
Soil remediation and compost production were quantified to calculate the raw waste and planting density required for ecological rehabilitation. Two scenarios were considered: Scenario #1 for Cleaning Area 1: A five-year plan covering 15 million square meters was selected for its feasibility and scale. This plan requires a monthly planting density of 31,294.5 square meters per facility and 187,767.14 kilograms of compost per month per facility. These metrics informed the scale and operations of the composting facility, supporting efficient rehabilitation of the land.
Sources:
58. “Project-Information-Document-Gaza-Wastewater-Management-Sustainability-WMS-Project-P172578.Pdf,” accessed August 16, 2024, https://documents1.worldbank. org/curated/en/450511586876051095/pdf/Project-Information-Document-Gaza-Wastewater-Management-Sustainability-WMS-Project-P172578.pdf.
Compost application rate
6Kg/m2
Average bulk density of compost
Compost yeild of total waste
Composting facilities count
600 Kg/ m3 8 facilities 0.60%
Data
Plant Density (m2)
Required Compost (Kg)
Required Compost Volume(m3)
Required Raw Waste Volume(m3)
312,945.233.75e+6
521.5756,258.90
1303.9415,647.26
The Wadi rehabilitation plan includes strategically allocated wastewater treatment, composting, agricultural, and energy facilities to ensure sustainable infrastructure development. The locations of these facilities were determined based on key parameters, employing weighted criteria to optimize their placement for functionality, connectivity, and efficiency.
Two wastewater treatment and composting facilities are established, with their locations selected based on the following parameters: 1. Wadi
3. Proximity to
4. Connection to Existing Water Networks
5. Coverage Area and Distance Between Facilities
The first facility is located at the site of the destroyed Central Gaza plant, while the second is positioned in the Wadi’s midsection to maximize coverage and efficiency.
Proximity to agricultural waste Sources
Proximity to residential areas
Facility #1 is located on the same site as the demolished Wastewater Treatment Plant, with analysis confirming the suitability of the location. The second facility is positioned in the central area of the Wadi, where site assessments indicate that it meets all required parameters for development.
Legend
Empty Plots
Residential Camps Areas
Agricultural Plots
Existing WWTP
Existing Wastewater nodes
Wadi Width
Facilities Location
ii. Agricultural Facility
Agricultural facilities are designed to support farming plots, provide storage, and manage waste collection, ensuring efficient material and product transfer between farms, composting sites, and markets. The plan includes six facilities to serve four zones covering a total of 15 km². Preliminary estimates suggest one facility is required for every 2.5 km².
Allocation Parameters:
1. Proximity to Composting and Wastewater Treatment Facilities
2. Connectivity to Main Road Networks
3. Agricultural Plot Connectivity
The breakdown of water needed for Horticulture, between 2025 and 2035, can be further seen in the appendix 59 .
Sources:
59. “(PDF) The Effect of Seawater Desalination for Domestic Purposes on The Reuse of Treated Effluents in Gaza Strip,” accessed August 16, 2024, https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/369706574_The_Effect_of_Seawater_Desalination_for_Domestic_Purposes_on_The_Reuse_of_Treated_Effluents_in_Gaza_Strip.
Proximity to composting and waste water treatment facilities
AGRICULTURAL FACILITIES
Connectivity to main road networks
AGRICULTURAL FACILITIES ALLOCATION
The breakdown of the zones and corresponding facility requirements is as follows:
These calculations provide a foundation for planning, which will be adjusted and optimized as further studies are conducted. m
Plots
Existing WWTP
Facilities Location
Agricultural nodes
Agriculture Zone 17 Plots
Agriculture Zone 2
Agriculture Zone 3
Agriculture Zone 4
3194369.28 4 Plots 8 Plots 9 Plots
iii. Power and Energy Facilities
Gaza’s energy infrastructure is severely damaged and relies heavily on power from the occupying authority, highlighting the need for self-sufficient renewable energy in the Wadi rehabilitation plan 60. Approximately 30% of each development area is allocated for energy production, primarily solar power, with additional support from hydropower and biogas facilities.
Allocation Parameters:
1. Proximity to the Sea: Coastal sites were assessed for their potential to support renewable energy infrastructure, primarily hydropower.
2. Solar Exposure Maximization: Solar energy harvesting sites were identified by analyzing sunlight hours and intensity to ensure optimal exposure for photovoltaic systems.
3. Proximity to New Facilities
4. Connectivity to Existing Power Grids
These assessments provide a comprehensive framework for the phased implementation of energy infrastructure, supporting both immediate needs and long-term sustainability goals.
Sources:
60. Will Todman, Joseph S. Bermudez Jr, and Jennifer Jun, “Gaza’s Solar Power in Wartime,” November 21, 2023, https:// www.csis.org/analysis/gazas-solar-power-wartime.
Proximity to new Wastwater and composting facilities
Connectivity to existing Power plants
Maximize Ponds Water Collection Potential
Solar Exposure and Sunlight hours
Analysis during winter months
Agricultural nodes
Constructed wetlands (CWs) are effective systems for treating wastewater and managing stormwater runoff, particularly in its early stages 61, offering benefits such as peak flow reduction, pollutant retention, and sediment settling. Acting as the “kidneys of the landscape,” CWs maintain ecological balance62 while also providing wildlife habitats and recreational opportunities. Powered by solar energy and requiring minimal maintenance, CWs are ideal for regions with limited infrastructure63 Aquatic vegetation within these systems slows water flow, aiding nutrient and sediment retention 64. Successful implementation relies on soil type, groundwater depth, hydrological calculations, and careful elevation and grading 65. Wetland plants also improve air quality by producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide.
For the Wadi area, the required wetland volume is calculated at 2.66 million cubic meters for a catchment area of 1.5e+7 m² with a runoff coefficient of 0.45. A depth of 1 to 1.5 meters necessitates a surface area of approximately 1.77 million m². These figures guide the wetland’s design, incorporating additional engineering refinements.
A meandering network with strategically placed inlets, outlets, and overflow points ensures efficient water management and controlled discharge into the valley66, leveraging the natural topography to optimize functionality and integration with the surrounding hydrological system67
Sources:
61. Piyush Malaviya and Asha Singh, “Constructed Wetlands for Management of Urban Stormwater Runoff,” Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, November 30, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2011.574107.
62. Malaviya and Singh.
63. J. N Carleton et al., “Factors Affecting the Performance of Stormwater Treatment Wetlands,” Water Research 35, no. 6 (April 1, 2001): 1552–62, https://doi.org/10.1016/S00431354(00)00416-4.
64. Malaviya and Singh, “Constructed Wetlands for Management of Urban Stormwater Runoff.”
65. Malaviya and Singh.
66. “Constructed-Wetlands.Pdf,” accessed August 16, 2024, https://clp.indiana.edu/doc/fact-sheets/constructed-wetlands.pdf.
67. “Constructed-Wetlands.Pdf.”
The rehabilitation of the Wadi area requires the integration of interconnected urban networks that actively contribute to the regeneration process. These networks are include the constructed wetlands network, divided into the generation of the wetland with meander network. The design of this networks follows a systematic approach, carefully defining the inputs, outputs, and parameters specific to each other.
A series of experiments guided the design process, laying the foundation for the master plan to be finalized in the project’s upcoming phase.
Key Steps in Network Design
Wetland Allocation and Connections (On Ground): Wetland locations were determined based on terrain and water flow dynamics, with low-lying areas prioritized for water settling and valley recharge.
(Agriculture Area)
Constructed Wetland Experiment
The location of wetland bodies was determined by analyzing terrain slope and elevation, identifying lowlying areas where water naturally settles. A 50-meter buffer was maintained from residential areas to minimize any potential impact.
In the second phase of the experiment, a network connecting these wetland bodies was designed to facilitate water flow towards the valley recharge areas.
A meandering network was introduced using an agent based algorithm to reduce water velocity, ensuring controlled flow from higher to lower elevations. Inlet and outlet points were strategically positioned to optimize water management.
The final phenotype was selected based on average fitness rankings. Please refer to the appendix at the end for a detailed Wallacei experiment and wetland design.
Environemntal Inputs
Contextual Data
GIS Data
Water Volume
Water Flow Analysis
32 Milimeters
Average Sliding 31-day constant
37 Milimeters
Highest Average 31-day on 15th of January
Phenotype chosen from the experiment
The next step involved connecting the wetlands to facilitate water flow between the water bodies and recharge the valley. Additional water flow analysis was conducted based on the final output.
The final boundaries for the wetlands were established as the final output, ensuring they meet the standard requirements.
A total of twenty-one wetland bodies are planned for construction.
The next step involved connecting the wetlands to facilitate water flow between the water bodies and recharge the valley. Additional water flow analysis was conducted based on the final output.
The final boundaries for the wetlands were established as the final output, ensuring they meet the standard requirements.
Buffer Zone
A total of twenty-one wetland bodies are planned for construction.
Points were selected in low-lying areas with minimal elevation differences to encourage the natural flow of water.
A 15-meter buffer zone was established around the wetland bodies.
The next step involved connecting the wetlands to facilitate water flow between the water bodies and recharge the valley. Additional water flow analysis was conducted based on the final output.
Points were selected in low-lying areas with minimal elevation differences to encourage the natural flow of water.
Excluding points that are within the Wadi sections
Buffer Zone
Excluding points that are within the Wadi sections
A 15-meter buffer zone was established around the wetland bodies.
Buffer Zone
A 15-meter buffer zone was established around the wetland bodies.
Residential Buffer
Buffer zone of 50 meters from Residential Areas
Residential Buffer
The final boundaries for the wetlands were established as the final output, ensuring they meet the standard requirements.
Buffer zone of 50 meters from Residential Areas
A total of twenty-one wetland bodies are planned for construction.
The inflow and outflow of the wetland bodies are defined by a network of meandering channels, guiding the water from higher elevations to lower areas.
The inflow and outflow of the wetland bodies are defined by a network of meandering channels, guiding the water from higher elevations to lower areas.
The next step involved connecting the wetlands to facilitate water flow between the water bodies and recharge the valley. Additional water flow analysis was conducted based on the final output.
Excluding points that are within sections
Two points were defined on the boundary of the wetland bodies, with efforts made to maximize the distance between these points to ensure the longest possible water flow for the purification process.
Two points were defined on the boundary of the wetland bodies, with efforts made to maximize the distance between these points to ensure the longest possible water flow for the purification process.
Meandering Network
The inflow and outflow of the wetland bodies are defined by a network of meandering channels, guiding the water from higher elevations to lower areas.
Two points were defined on the boundary of the wetland bodies, with efforts made to maximize the distance between these points to ensure the longest possible water flow for the purification process.
A 15-meter buffer zone was established around the wetland bodies.
The inflow and outflow of the wetland bodies are defined by a network of meandering channels, guiding the water from higher elevations to lower areas.
Two points were defined on the boundary of the wetland bodies, with efforts made to maximize the distance between these points to ensure the longest possible water flow for the purification process.
The site’s program was structured to balance the functional needs of wastewater treatment and composting with community-focused initiatives emphasizing placemaking. The site was divided into four zones: wastewater treatment, composting, agriculture, and two community-oriented zones housing a marketplace and community centre. Programs were developed through cultural research and case studies, targeting cultural, educational, commercial, and recreational activities. The spatial requirements for the infrastructure were based on analyses of existing facilities in Gaza.
A programmatic strategy informed by the Public Space Quality Index (PSQI) classified spaces along a spectrum from private to public, ensuring appropriate integration throughout the site. To enhance ecological functionality and public engagement, secondary treatment tanks were decentralized and embedded into the wetlands. This integration supported clean water flow, created habitats for wildlife, and provided public gathering spaces that linked infrastructure with natural systems. Additionally, recreational courtyards were introduced as connectors between communal and infrastructural zones, fostering opportunities for education and interaction.68
Sources:
68. Praliya, Seema, and Pushplata Garg. ‘Public Space Quality Evaluation: Prerequisite for Public Space Management’. The Journal of Public Space, 31 May 2019, 93–126. https://doi.org/10.32891/jps. v4i1.667.
Topological planning defined the spatial relationships between private, semi-public, and public zones. This categorization informed the development of a programmatic catalogue, which specified area and height requirements for each zone. Private tank spaces were designed with a height of six meters to accommodate operational needs, standard spaces were set at three meters, and courtyards were elevated to twelve meters to serve as central hubs for communal activities, such as volleyball and other social events. These courtyards also as crucial connectors, facilitating smooth transitions between infrastructure and community areas. Semi-public spaces were strategically positioned as intermediaries, creating a seamless flow from recreational courtyards to educational facilities and onward to either public or private infrastructure spaces.
To optimize the spatial components, Grasshopper and Wasp were employed for programmatic organization within the designated zones. Multi-objective optimization experiments were conducted using Wallacei to refine configurations based on specific goals: maximizing self-shading, enhancing surface area to volume ratios, and optimizing views of Wadi Gaza. Weighted criteria prioritized self-shading, reflecting the importance of environmental efficiency. Pareto front analysis of simulation results identified optimized configurations, ensuring the integration of functional infrastructure with communal spaces while achieving spatial and environmental objectives. This strategy established a cohesive framework that harmonized ecological restoration, social engagement, and architectural functionality.
Population Generation Size: Generation Count: Population Size:
Algorithm Parameters
Crossover Probability:
EXPERIMENT
PARETO FRONT SOLUTIONS FITNESS CRITERIA
Gen 19: Ind 1
FC01: -3.1948e+6
FC02: -0.573684
FC03: -115963.333
Gen 19: Ind 3
FC01: -3.1106e+6
FC02: -0.57316
FC03: -121383.333
Gen 19: Ind 4
FC01: -3.1686e+6
FC02: -0.577143
FC03: -117140
Gen 19: Ind 11
FC01: -3.1146e+6
FC02: -0.579105
FC03: -116790
COMMUNITY CENTRE Gen 19: Ind 18 Gen 19: Ind 1 Gen 19: Ind 6 Gen 19: Ind 4
FC01: -3.1707e+6
FC02: -0.574775
FC03: -115270
Gen 19: Ind 15
• Phenotype 19-1 was the most optimized after applying the weighting criteria for maximizing self-shading.
SD-GRAPHS
PARALLEL COORDINATE GRAPH
PARETO FRONT SOLUTIONS FITNESS CRITERIA
Gen 19: Ind 0
FC01: -1.6717e+6
FC02: -0.537255
FC03: -145940
FC01: -1.6103e+6
FC02: -0.5
FC03: -163810
FC01: -1.5907e+6
FC02: -0.512554
FC03: -152360
FC01: -1.6269e+6
FC02: -0.553672
FC03: -124473.333
FC01: -1.6043e+6
FC02: -0.551795
FC03: -128110
• Phenotype 19-0 was the most optimized after applying the weighting criteria for maximizing self-shading.
EXPERIMENT 3 :
WW TREATMENT PLANT
FITNESS CRITERIA
FC01: -4.2396e+6
FC02: -0.566066
FC03: -541466.666
FC04: -10649.9965
PARETO FRONT SOLUTIONS
Gen 19: Ind 17
Gen 5: Ind 11
FC01: -4.0747e+6
FC02: -0.61836
FC03: -515506.666
FC04: -9149.9394
Gen 11: Ind 17
FC01: -4.339e+6
FC02: -0.594024
FC03: -507193.33
FC04:-10249.987
Gen 16: Ind 6
FC01: -4.0238e+6
FC02: -0.61988
FC03: -446520
FC04: -8149.9423
Gen 16: Ind 18
FC01: -4.4684e+6
FC02: -0.595089
FC03: -504113.333
FC04: -10250.0237
• Phenotype 19-17 was the most optimized after applying the weighting criteria for maximizing self-shading and maximizing floor area to fit all infrastructural equipment.
SD-GRAPHS
PARALLEL COORDINATE GRAPH
FITNESS CRITERIA
FC01: -3.6232e+6
FC02: -0.641904
FC03: -224933.333
PARETO FRONT SOLUTIONS
Gen 19: Ind 3
Gen 19: Ind 5
FC01: -3.4319e+6
FC02: -0.650936
FC03: -199986.666
Gen 19: Ind 11
FC01: -3.3865e+6
FC02: -0.63145
FC03: -238816.666
Gen 19: Ind 15
FC01: -3.3937e+6
FC02: -0.646536
FC03: -206313.333
Gen 19: Ind 16
FC01:-3.3479e+6
FC02: -0.646913
FC03: -202000
• Phenotype 19-3 was the most optimized after applying the weighting criteria for maximizing self-shading.
Material Selection
The material selection process comprehensively compared various factors and data using a matrix distribution system. This analysis concluded that loam, combined with Date Palm Fiber as an additive and Magnesium Oxide as a stabiliser, offers a sustainable yet robust alternative to concrete. These locally sourced materials result in a strong, durable construction material. Additionally, when these blocks are crushed, they can be easily reintegrated into the soil without causing harm, promoting a sustainable and environmentally friendly construction cycle.
Material Matrix Analysis: In Gaza, locally available materials are evaluated for their resilience, durability, and sustainability in construction. Loam is the most abundant and practical option, with it being 19.9% clay, 39.2% silt, and 40.6% sand in the Wadi region, utilising local skills and traditional methods. It supports communitydriven construction, is easily accessible, and promotes a sustainable cycle. 69
Sources:
69. Usama Zaineldeen, “Geology, Geomorphology and Hydrology of the Wadi Gaza Catchment, Gaza Strip, Palestine,” Journal of African Earth Sciences, January 1, 2012, 1.
Additives and Stabilizers:
Various additives are compared against each other to meet specific criteria, including fabrication processes, longevity, time efficiency, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, feedback loop integration, reusability, and suitability for architectural-scale applications.
Date palm is one of Gaza’s most abundant but underutilised natural materials, valued for its durability and high tensile strength. Fibers can be extracted from different parts of the tree, including the leaflets, which offer the highest cellulose content and are easier to extract, making them an efficient resource. These properties—moisture resistance and resilience—make date palm fibres particularly suited for construction applications. According to El Bourki, Koutous, and Hilali (2023), leaflet fibres are superior due to their strength and ease of extraction, requiring less labour compared to other parts of the palm. 70
Magnesium oxide (MgO) is an effective soil stabiliser that enhances the strength and durability of soil blocks. When MgO reacts with water, magnesium hydroxide forms, bonding soil particles together and improving structural integrity. The process of carbonation, where MgO reacts with atmospheric carbon dioxide, further hardens the blocks, making the system carbon-negative. Extracting MgO from desalination brine involves applying heat to concentrate and isolate the magnesium salts, which were then processed into powdered MgO suitable for use as a stabiliser in construction.
Sources:
70. Abdelhakim El Bourki, Ahmed Koutous, and Elmokhtar Hilali, “A Review on the Use of Date Palm Fibers to Reinforce Earth-Based Construction Materials,” Materials Today: Proceedings, June 2023, S2214785323032479, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
61. Evaluation of the selection of a stabilizer
The investigation focused on developing a sustainable material system by experimenting with different proportions of binding elements consisting of loam, date palm fibre, and Magnesium oxide. Compressive and tensile strength tests were conducted at each stage, concluding with a water resiliency test to assess the material’s durability and performance. These evaluations were critical in determining the optimal mixture for the best results under various conditions.
Experiment Set-Up:
Five tests were conducted, with the best result from each test carried forward to the next experiment. Each specimen was compacted into a cylindrical mould with 200 mm in height and 100 mm in diameter. The specimen was compressed after two pours from a cup of the mixture volume to ensure even compaction. After compaction, the specimen was carefully removed from the mould, and its initial weight was recorded. The specimens were then left to dry for 24 hours before undergoing compressive and tensile strength tests.
Workability
Analysis of the mixtures workability Ratio of Sand, Silt and Clay Weight
Heaviness of the mixture
Ratio of date palm fiber
Tensile Strength Increase in Tensile Strength with optimum ratio
Ratio of Magnesium Oxide
Increase in Strength Significant increase in strength
MATERIAL EXPERIMENTATION
Decomposition
Decrease decomposition rate
Water Durability Test
Usability
Evaluation of water absorbtion to be used as a building external material
200mm Height
100mm Dia
Each specimen was positioned vertically centrally within a jig equipped with a flat plate on top to ensure even load distribution during testing. The flat plate was designed with edge stoppers to enable a smooth, tilt-free descent under increasing load. Incremental loads were applied until the material reached its breaking point, at which the load at failure was recorded.
Compressive Strength (Mpa) = Force(N) / Cross Sectional Area(mm2)
Physical Ratio Assessment Criteria
To measure the tensile strength of the material, the specimen was positioned horizontally within a jig, secured by stoppers to maintain its alignment under increasing weight loads. Incremental loads were applied until the material reached its failure point, at which the load was recorded.
Tensile Strength (Mpa) = 2 X Force(N) / Pi X Length X Diameter
01
The ratio of Silt, Sand and Clay, combination to form loam: The objective of the experiment was to identify the optimal ratio of sand, silt, and clay to create loam with properties that not only offer strength and durability but are also easy to work with during the construction process. Five ratios, starting from the natural ratio composition within the Wadi, were chosen for the experiment. This balanced composition was critical to ensure the loam could be mixed effectively, maintaining consistency and being a reliable building material.
Result
Initial observations revealed that varying mixture ratios significantly impacted the texture and workability of the material. A higher clay content made the mixture stickier and more challenging to handle, requiring additional water for proper binding. Conversely, increasing the sand content enhanced the material's strength, making it more robust. However, higher clay and sand contents resulted in heavier blocks due to the larger volume of these elements in the mixture. The results indicate Mixture 03 to be the best in comparison within this category.
EXPERIMENT 02
The Ratio of loam with date palm fibers: The experiment aimed to determine the optimal loam and date palm fibre ratio to achieve desirable properties in the final material. The fibres were carefully extracted from the natural weave of the date palm leaves and then cut to a length of approximately 30mm, ensuring consistency and uniformity in the mixture. Three mixtures with ratios extracted from Abdelhakim El bourk were used for the test. 71
Result
According to Abdelhakim El Bourka, incorporating date palm fibres into the material mix increases its tensile strength, with an optimal ratio of 0.5%. However, beyond this point, the addition of more fibres begins to decrease both compressive and tensile strength. During the mixing process, achieving a uniform distribution of the fibres across the sample’s volume became challenging, as the fibres naturally tended to cling together despite efforts to separate them. Additionally, as the fibre content increased, the specimen’s ability to effectively bind all materials together diminished, negatively impacting the material’s structural integrity. The increase of fibre content directly impacted Specimen 03 as this specimen broke before being tested. The results indicate that Mixture 01 was the best in increasing the strength of the material in this category.
Sources:
EXPERIMENT 03
The ratio of loam and palm fibers with Magnesium oxide: The experiment aimed to determine the optimal ratio of Mixture 01 from Experiment 02 and magnesium oxide, focusing on achieving desirable properties. The samples were kept damp with a cloth for the first three days to facilitate the reaction between magnesium oxide and water. The samples were then left to air dry for the remaining four days. This process also allowed the material to absorb carbon dioxide from the air, contributing to its hardening. Three different mixtures of the specimen were tested under these conditions to evaluate their performance.
The blocks underwent notable chemical reactions, leading to visible changes in their physical appearance. Over time, the blocks began developing white residues on their surfaces and increasingly hardened. The experiment demonstrated that the compressive and tensile properties of the blocks improved with a higher ratio of magnesium oxide, although Specimen 03 exhibited a significant decrease in both properties. Two primary types of failures were observed in the samples: internal breakage and crushing. The results highlighted a notable increase in compressive strength due to adding magnesium oxide, with the compressive strength calculated up to the crushing reaching 1.057 MPa.
A study was conducted to evaluate the impact of biodegradation on the structural integrity of date palm fibres by comparing fibres treated with a biochar coating to untreated fibres to assess the impact of biodegradation on the structural integrity of date palm fibres. Both sets of fibres were immersed in a tub of still water with a pH of 6.8 and left for seven days. The pH levels were recorded after one day, three, and seven days to monitor any changes, indicating the decomposition rate and its impact on the water’s acidity. Using biochar aimed to slow down the biodegradation process and thus maintain the material’s integrity over a more extended period.
The results indicated that the sample coated with biochar exhibited a higher alkaline pH than the uncoated sample. The result suggests that the decomposition rate slowed significantly when the date palm fibres were treated with biochar. This finding supports the idea that biochar can effectively enhance natural fibres’ longevity by reducing their biodegradation rate.
EXPERIMENT 05
Water Durability Test: The experiment focused on evaluating the water durability of the final blocks, both the date palm fibres covered with and without biochar. The blocks were immersed in a tub of water and soaked. Weight measurements were taken after one day, three days, seven days, and 28 days to assess the extent of water absorption. A critical threshold was established. If the weight of the material increased by more than 20% of its initial weight, it was deemed unsuitable for construction without substantial reinforcement to maintain structural integrity.
The results indicated that the sample blocks contained air gaps, which allowed water to infiltrate rapidly. Despite this initial water absorption, which reached about 13% after the first day, the increase in water content stabilised and did not exceed this percentage significantly in subsequent days. The result suggests that while the blocks initially absorbed water, their capacity to continue absorbing moisture diminished, potentially due to the saturation of air gaps or the material’s limited porosity.
The objectives for the brick design were to introduce more surface contact area to support the brick during installation and a fabrication logic which enables the brick to be easily mass produced. The addition of an offset to create an interlocking brick increases the point of contact and aids the brick to support the succeeding pieces by increasing bonding surface and friction. A curved surface was investigated for the contact faces as it prevented chipping of the material when handling in comparison to straight edges. An offset of 50mm was the chosen variation as its finite element analysis showed the least concentrated stresses once force was applied. As the standard thickness for earth structures is 200-250mm, the brick was designed with a thickness of 100mm. The length is set at 200mm for ease of installation in curved areas.
A simple physical mold was developed to streamline the brick production process, enabling the community to manufacture them with ease. To rationalize the fabrication of the catenary vaults with the bricks, variation needs to be introduced to accommodate the areas of curvature.
The development of the morphology was informed by the results of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) applied to the spatial voxel ratios that form the catenary arches. This process integrated inputs from the site’s spatial program, which had already been optimized for environmental conditions. After generating the morphology, FEA was used to analyze stress distribution within the arches, while the building’s openings were examined for solar radiation. This analysis guided the placement of fenestrations, ensuring optimal positioning relative to the sun’s direction for enhanced environmental performance.
Morphology Experiment
The generated morphology was post-analyzed using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) under self-weight, revealing minimal displacements under 0.15 cm, confirming the vaults’ stability and effective performance under compression.
MORPHOLOGY GENERATION
Spatial Program Distribution
Spatial Distribution on site
Distribution of the programs is according to the self-shading factor affecting the generation on site
Grid Division
Ease of construction 1 1 1
1:1:1 ratio grid divides the spatial design for faster and easier construction
Aggregation of catenary vaults
Catenary vaults on site
Generation of the morphology based on the grid system distribution
Finite Element Analysis Solar Analysis
Structure stability
Analysis of the structure stability using loam compressive blocks as construction materials
Interior Thermal comfort
Analysis of Solar radiation to understand thermal comfort within the morphology
Inputs : Spatial Program organisation
Output: Optimized morphology generation using grid system of 5x5M and 10x10M according to height variations.
PARAMETERS
6-meter height: a 5x5 meter grid system was employed.
9-meter height: a 10x10 meter grid system was applied.
12-meter height: a 10x10 meter grid system was used.
Grid Division of Spatial Configuration
The spatial volume generated was studied, and the extents of the spatial boxes were determined, dictating the maximum height the arches would reach. The volume was divided into a grid system of 5x5M and 10x10M to allow for a easy constuction, with specific parameters set to ensure structural stability at different heights. This approach also facilitates the creation of modular vaults, making the construction process more manageable for local communities, enabling them to build efficiently while maintaining the structural integrity of the vaults.
Additionally, solar radiation on the floor plates was examined to guide the design of fenestrations. Each direction—east, south, west, and north—requires different light levels and experiences varying solar radiation. A detailed analysis using the Ladybug component was conducted to assess the impact of fenestration design, determining whether the location demanded more open or closed panels to optimize lighting and thermal performance. This experiment can be further seen in the Appendix.
The four typologies are aggregated on site in their respective zones.
The site incorporates WWTP extensions through a series of cleaning ponds, with experiments conducted to optimize their placement. Zones were allocated and subdivided using a multi-objective algorithm, resulting in the aggregation of four distinct morphologies across the identified development zones. Further details and explanations are provided in the appendix.
The proposal culminates in the aggregation of diverse typologies, showcased in the final render.
The M.Arch phase emphasized the critical importance of addressing food security, while the M.Sc phase focused on wastewater management, aligning this objective with community engagement across both the systems through the proposed M.Sc WWTP. Showcasing the placement and experiments conducted during the M.Sc phase was crucial in establishing a connection to the WWTP within the M.Arch phase.
The project envisions water as a central, unifying element, facilitating the seamless integration of systems encompassing water, community, materials, and rehabilitation. This vision underscores the interconnectedness of the M.Sc and M.Arch phases, emphasizing cohesion and integration across multiple scales.
During the MSc phase, an application was developed to support architects and designers in Gaza, focusing on community participation and knowledge sharing in construction. The application featured four core components: information sharing, user engagement, participatory design, and practical expertise. Leveraging Augmented Reality, it enabled users to visualize and interact with building typologies, allowing them to customize designs to meet specific spatial needs prior to construction.
The app was built using the Unity Game Engine and Vuforia AR, with C# scripting ensuring smooth functionality and seamless scene transitions. Kangaroo and multiobjective optimization techniques were incorporated to refine simulations, creating precise and environmentally responsive catenary arch structures. Additionally, the app promoted sustainable construction by optimizing local resource use and enhancing material knowledge, engaging the community in both the design and building processes.
The M.Sc phase envisioned a timeline 30 years into the future, establishing various functions along the Wadi rehabilitation plan. The design, closely tied to water ecology, served as the foundation for the M.Arch phase, which shifted focus to prioritize freshwater generation as the initial need, rather than wastewater treatment emphasized in the M.Sc phase. Building on this foundation, the M.Arch proposal utilizes wetlands and strategically located development plots to rehabilitate agricultural lands through integrated agricultural infrastructure. This approach emphasizes placemaking and microclimate conditions, fostering ecosystem regeneration throughout the 30-year timeline.
OVERVIEW
5-1 Timeline
5-2 Global Development Strategy
5-3 Greenhouse Morphology Design
5-4 Form-finding
5-5 Kit of Parts: Vaults
The master plan lays out a 30-year rehabilitation strategy across five phases, each emphasizing soil health, water management, and community-driven development.
Phase One (0–2 years) designates development zones near the Bureij and Nuseirat camps, aiming to meet their vegetable requirements and half of their water needs. Composting units initiate the soil rehabilitation process, and once the soil recovers, it can be used for local building materials, reducing external dependence and encouraging community participation.
Phase Two (2–8 years) utilizes the improved soil to construct greenhouses equipped with solar stills, planting beds, and composting units. Moreover, additional amenities such as storage areas and training centers are also constructed during this phase. By clustering these facilities in zones along Wadi Gaza, farmers gain direct access to resources, ensuring sustainable cultivation practices continue to expand.
Phase Three (8–15 years) Prior to the eight-year clearance mark, it is estimated that the population growth rate will be 1.59%. The clearance of rubble and debris, as indicated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), could take up to eight years due to extensive restrictions and damage.72 Following this clearance, more people are expected to return and settle, leading to a rise in the growth rate to 1.96%. 73 With newly cleared land, a souk or marketplace becomes the central hub, surrounded by communal facilities and agricultural infrastructure. Water channels are installed to carry purified water from solar stills to sunken courtyards, through the souk’s channels, and into retention ponds and the nearby wetland, supporting farming while fostering social interaction, economic activity, and a cooling microclimate.
Phase Four (15–25 years) expands the souk and agricultural infrastructure across multiple development zones, allowing more communities to benefit from centralized markets and distribution networks. During this phase, wastewater from these zones and adjacent camps is routed into two main wastewater treatment plants, preventing pollution and reclaiming water for agricultural and ecological needs.
Phase Five (25–30 years) involves the construction of large infrastructural plots, including the MSc project that initially proposed a wastewater treatment plant, a composting facility, and two communal typologies. In this phase, water, wastewater, energy, and agriculture merge into a single, cohesive framework. As residents travel from the camps, pass through the souks, and arrive at the new infrastructural facilities, placemaking strategies foster daily interactions with greenhouses, water channels, and marketplaces. These connections seamlessly unify infrastructure and ecology, creating a
system where each component supports the other. By encouraging self-reliance and balanced resource use, Wadi Gaza transforms into a thriving model of regenerative development, recovering from past damage while setting a precedent for sustainable growth.
Sources:
72. Kiyada, Sudev, Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa, Adolfo Arranz, Simon Scarr, Emma Farge, and Angus McDowall. ‘Gaza in Rubble and Ruin’. Reuters, 6 October 2024. https://www.reuters. com/graphics/ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS/ANNIVERSARY-GAZA-RUBBLE/akveegbnlvr/.
73. ‘World Bank Open Data’.
Revitalizing the Wadi area requires identifying and implementing architectural interventions based on a thorough assessment of local needs, particularly in agricultural support and management. Quantitative data, including metrics on rainfall, food deficit, water consumption, water scarcity, agricultural needs, guide these interventions.
The destructed agricultural land redevelopment is anchored in three primary components, which aim to foster sustainable and resilient urban growth through strategic architectural and infrastructural interventions :
1. Agricultural Infrastructure :
Greenhouse Systems:
The design and capacity of the greenhouse is based on analysis of the food shortage, fresh water requirements and compost required to rehabilitate the agricultural lands surrounding the wadi. These factors are evaluated on a global scale to ascertain the water, food and compost deficits to evaluate the facility size.
a. Food security:
To ensure food security for the camp residents, the shortage of food is quantitatively assessed, covering both the vegetable production within the greenhouse and the grain cultivation on the agricultural land. The assessment determined a total requirement of 22,916.9 tonnes per year 74
b. Fresh Water Supply :
A solar still is proposed as the freshwater system, with calculations based on groundwater consumption by nearby camps, rainfall recovery, and irrigation needs for crops 75. The assessment concluded with a requirement of 0.9MCM per year.
c. Composting Area :
The area surrounding Wadi Gaza designated for rehabilitation was quantitatively assessed, encompassing both the soil volume requiring remediation and the quantity of compost necessary for the process. Additionally, calculations were made for the amount of raw waste required for compost production. The thirty year plan of rehabilitation, covering 161176.6 hectares of high value agricultural land is chosen for cleaning. This plan required 17,387 m3 of compost per facility across the 30 year span.
Incorporating the three systems, the greenhouse assessments determined the need for 927 greenhouse units, with an area of 500 m², incorporating 150 m² of solar stills and 96 m³ of compost per unit.
Sources:
74. United Nations, “Food,” United Nations (United Nations), accessed October 2nd, 2024, https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/food.
75. “Irrigation Management | Land & Water | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | Land & Water | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,” accessed October 2nd, 2024, https://www.fao.org/land-water/ water/water-management/irrigation-management/en/.
Compost application rate
6Kg/m2
Average bulk density of compost
Compost yeild of total waste
Composting facilities count
600 Kg/ m3 8 facilities 0.60%
Fig 74. Composting Parameters
Drawing on concepts of regenerative development and sustainable urbanism, this project interconnects environment, economy, community, and well-being to address both immediate and long-term needs of the community. By prioritizing job creation, cultural exchange, and social interaction, the proposal ensures a resilient, inclusive, and self-sustaining ecosystem. 76
In terms of Environment, the project emphasizes ecological restoration through agricultural infrastructure, regenerative water systems, and soil rejuvenation, while resource management focuses on clean energy and closed-loop material cycles aligned with Cradle-toCradle principles. For Economy, it supports job creation by fostering agricultural and commercial ventures and promotes a circular economy through material reuse and composting, reinforcing regenerative agriculture and waste minimization. Within Community, cultural exchange is encouraged through microclimatic open, flexible gathering spaces for collaboration, cultural events, and learning opportunities, while social interaction is strengthened by placing communal functions at accessible nodes to ensure equitable participation and cohesion. 77
Lastly, Well-being is enhanced through holistic health initiatives, integrating recreational and educational amenities to improve mental and physical wellness, and inclusive design that ensures environments are safe, adaptable, and culturally responsive, fostering communal pride and belonging.
Sources:
76. ‘(PDF) Forum: Shifting from “sustainability” to Regeneration’. ResearchGate, 22 October 2024. https://doi. org/10.1080/09613210701475753.
77. ‘What Makes a Successful Place?’ Accessed 2 January 2025. https://www.pps.org/article/grplacefeat.
The site’s program was defined based on the spatial and functional requirements of the greenhouse system processes while integrating community-oriented initiatives that emphasize placemaking. Consequently, the site included agricultural zones and building zones, which incorporated communal and infrastructural programs. The spaces were calculated to accommodate a 30year population growth, culminating in a final projected population of over 124,000 people. 78
The communal programs were formulated through cultural and contextual research, ensuring responsiveness to local needs while drawing insights from precedent case studies. These programs were categorized into four key activity areas: cultural, educational, commercial, and recreational. Conversely, the spatial requirements for the greenhouse were determined through an analysis of existing situation and need of food and water in Gaza, and by adhering to international standards and regulations. Specifications for elements like the solar still were informed by standard calculations, water flow equations, community-needs, and the agricultural needs of each development zone.
Building on these principles, the project divides its total area among three primary typologies, including: greenhouses, communal spaces, and farmer support areas, to holistically address environmental, economic, and social objectives.
Greenhouse Functions
-Planting Beds: Support crop production to enhance local food security and reduce dependence on imports.
-Composting Piles: Transform organic waste into nutrientrich soil, closing the loop on waste and creating soil for both agriculture and construction material.
-Solar Stills: Deliver clean water for irrigation and community use, integrating passive purification methods that reduce reliance on non-renewable energy.
Communal Functions
-Recreational Typology: Kitchens, cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and indoor game facilities cultivate social connections and leisure.
-Educational and Cultural Typologies: Libraries, lecture halls, workshops, and prayer halls encourage cultural exchange and lifelong learning.
-Souks or Markets: Stalls for food, textiles, perfumes, and household goods boost local entrepreneurship and small-scale commerce.
Farmer Amenities
-Storage Units: Secure and efficient storage for farming tools, seeds, and resources ensures smooth agricultural operations.
-Logistics Facilities: Streamline the farm-to-market pipeline, supporting packaging, distribution, and collaborative networks.
All in all, the project comprises five typologies— recreational, cultural, educational, souk, and farmer, alongside greenhouses. Through the strategic allocation of greenhouses, retention ponds, water channels, communal spaces, and farmer areas, the project establishes a regenerative and integrated framework for Wadi Gaza, aligning architectural typologies with the core principles of environment, economy, community, and well-being. It restores ecological balance through sustainable resource management, stimulates economic opportunities by fostering local entrepreneurship, cultivates cultural exchange and robust social networks, and prioritizes holistic well-being. By addressing urgent needs for food, water, and infrastructure, this integration creates a lasting foundation for self-reliance, ownership, and communal resilience, offering a regenerative model for sustainable development.
Sources:
78. ‘Gaza, Palestine Population 2024’. Accessed 13 October 2024. https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/palestine/gaza.
Fig 79. Spatial requirements for each typology
The rehabilitation of the Wadi area necessitates the design and integration of multilayered networks that not only support but actively facilitate the regeneration process. The design of each network is inherently interdependent, with each one influencing and relying upon the others to function effectively. The network design was guided by a systematic approach that defines the inputs, outputs, and parameters specific to each network. Moreover, the intersections and interactions between these networks are meticulously planned to ensure the seamless flow of materials and resources across the entire system.
The networks are categorized into two primary types: the constructed wetlands network and the wastewater network. The constructed wetland, initially designed as part of the M.Sc phase of the project, was taken as an input into the M.Arch phase. The wastewater network involved collecting wastewater from the surrounding agricultural areas of the Wadi, integrating it with the existing wastewater infrastructure, and identifying appropriate outlet connections from the agricultural plots to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) established during the M.Sc phase. The outputs of the constructed wetland network were incorporated as parameters into the system. The wastewater generated from the agricultural plots was determined based on the number of users and their daily generation of waste water. After
treatment, this water supports the rehabilitation of the wadi, and the portion supplied from the M.Arch plots would supply irrigation water back to the agricultural plots forming an feedback loop system.
The rehabilitation of the agricultural land includes the creation of retention ponds to capture stormwater, facilitating aquifer recharge and contributing to the development of a microclimate, with an outlet directed toward the constructed wetlands. The retention ponds primarily rely on rainwater collected from the surrounding areas of the development. Additionally, they receive a part of the water produced by the solar still, which aids in microclimate enhancement across the rehabilitation zone allowing the retention ponds to be full during the non rainy months. The water system across the zone is transversed through an open channel system.
The design of the retention pond is adhered to established parameters and guidelines set by British and American systems and insights from precedent case studies. The key components of the design are as follows:
1. System design: The pond is designed to hold water for a period of a month and released slowly, maximizing benefits and optimizing performance. A circular shape pond promotes uniform water distribution, reducing stagnation, maximizing the pond’s volume for retention and treatment 79
2. Water Flow: Effective retention pond design aims to reduce water velocity as it traverses, utilizing the frictional resistance of aquatic vegetation to further slow flow. This reduction in velocity is crucial for sediment and nutrient retention.
3. Spatial Configurations: The spatial design involves setting the size, depth, and location of key components like the sediment forebay, shallow aquatic zone and a main pool.
4. Vegetation Type: The selection of appropriate plant species is critical, as varying plants necessitate different water depths for optimal purification. The following
Sources:
79.
The Wadi rehabilitation plan involves restoring the damaged agricultural plots over a 30-year period using a phased development approach. The development zone chosen for the first phase was determined based on a set of parameters, including:
1. Proximity to the camp
2. Connections to Existing Main Roads
3. Proximity to M.Sc Waste Water Treatment Plant.
4. Proximity to the wetlands
Employing a weighted criteria methodology, the development zone chosen for the first phase is positioned in the midsection of the Wadi.
Destroyed Agricultural plots for M.Arch development
Conventional greenhouse designs typically rely on heating and cooling systems to regulate climatic conditions, with a significant dependency on external water sources80. The inefficiencies of these traditional methods exacerbate the region’s challenges, with aquifer depletion and soil degradation. To minimize this reliance, the proposed greenhouse design emphasizes the use of locally available materials and integrates a system where water, soil, and agricultural processes function interdependently. This approach establishes a self-sustaining feedback loop.
The system utilizes a solar still to produce freshwater from saline water through condensation, which increases the surrounding humidity. While solar stills are traditionally positioned in isolated locations for this reason, the proposed design integrates the solar still into the greenhouse, leveraging its humidity generation to eliminate the need for a separate fogging system. To enhance the efficiency of the solar still, which typically produces 4 liters of water per square mewter, heat from the composting unit is employed to preheat the saline water before it enters the still. This integration increases the water production capacity to 10 liters per square meter. The freshwater produced is stored in a tank and allocated for multiple uses: a portion irrigates the greenhouse, another supplies water to the nearby camps, and the remainder supports agricultural irrigation and microclimate regulation, ensuring an efficient and multifunctional water management system.
The design incorporates the cultivation of four types of vegetables, each with distinct height and humidity requirements81, which can influence the distribution of sunlight among them. This necessitates careful optimization of the spatial arrangement of functions to ensure efficient resource utilization and harmonious growth conditions. 500m2 of greenhouse includes crops that occupy 250m2, solar still occupying 150m2, compost occupying 25m2 and circulation occupying 50m2.
The greenhouse is designed with its longest side oriented toward the south, maximizing sunlight exposure for the plants. The greenhouse floor plate size is determined based on a study by A. Mellalou et al., which concludes that a width-to-length ratio of 1:5 provides optimal sunlight exposure for crops82. On the basis of this, the length to width distances of the greenhouse is 10m by 50m.
To optimize the use of local materials, the design incorporates soil bricks developed during the M.Sc phase, chosen for their structural compressive strength and thermal mass properties to regulate internal climatic conditions. The thickness of the brick arches kept constant as 0.6m to span 10m wide, which was proven by FEA in the further section. The arches are placed every 5m based on the size of the polycarbonate sheet span (2.1m*6m) to reduce additional structure requirement. Despite the high number of sunlight hours, the solar radiation requirements for the plants remain relatively low. Traditionally, this is effectively managed in greenhouses through the use of polycarbonate sheets, which filter harmful UV rays.
In response, the proposed design incorporates plastic sheets and date palm mesh as initial solutions to mitigate solar radiation levels, keeping them within the desired range. Over time, these materials are intended to be replaced with polycarbonate sheets to improve durability and efficiency. The date palm mesh, in particular, further enhances UV filtration, contributing to the greenhouse’s overall efficiency. This approach prioritizes the construction of the greenhouse, ensuring its functionality in the early stages of the project, generating food security from the outset.
Sources:
80. Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture, Société internationale de la science horticole, and Centre national pour la recherche agricole et la vulgarisation, eds., Good Agricultural Pratices for Greenhouse Vegetable Crops: Principles for Mediterranean Climate Areas, FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 217 (Rome: FAO, 2013). 81. Christian von Zabeltitz, “Crop Water Requirement and Water Use Efficiency,” in Integrated Greenhouse Systems for Mild Climates: Climate Conditions, Design, Construction, Maintenance, Climate Control, ed. Christian von Zabeltitz (Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, 2011), 313–19, https://doi.org/10.1007/9783-642-14582-7_13.
82. Mellalou, A., Mouaky, A., Bacaoui, A. et al. A comparative study of greenhouse shapes and orientations under the climatic conditions of Marrakech, Morocco. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 19, 6045–6056 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762021-03556-z
SD GRAPHS
Maximize sunlight on planting beds between 8-10 hours per day
FC02: Minimizing the drip Irrigation length from solar still to planting beds
PARALLEL COORDINATE GRAPH
Population Generation Size:
Generation Count:
Population Size:
Algorithm Parameters
Crossover Probability: Mutation Probability:
Crossover Distribution Index: Mutation Distribution Index:
Simulation Parameters
No of Genes (Sliders): No.Of value (SliderValues): Size of Search Space:
FC01: Maximize sunlight on planting beds between 8-10 hours per day
FC02: Minimizing the drip Irrigation length from solar still to planting beds
FC03: Maximizing ventilation through buoyancy
FC04: Maximizing UV protection on planting beds and solar still between 2.5 KWh/m2 to 4.5 KWh/m2
FC03: Maximizing ventilation through buoyancy
FC01: 35
Fitness Rank: 0/99
FC02: -8.7
Fitness Rank: 0/99
FC03: -115
Fitness Rank: 0/99
FC04: -1.93
Fitness Rank: 22/99
FC01: 95
Fitness Rank: 73/99
FC02: -6.8
Fitness Rank: 37/99
FC03: -106.3
Fitness Rank:1/99
FC04: -5.3
Fitness Rank: 0/99
FC01: 35
Fitness Rank: 0/99
FC02: -3.6
Fitness Rank: 77/99
FC03: -106.3
Fitness Rank:1/99
FC04: -2.4
Fitness Rank: 20/99
FC01: 91
Fitness Rank: 69/99
FC02: -6.6
Fitness Rank: 35/99
FC03: -106.3
Fitness Rank:1/99
FC04: -5.3
Fitness Rank: 0/99
FC01: 35
Fitness Rank: 0/99
FC02: -4.5
Fitness Rank: 52/99
FC03: -106.3
Fitness Rank:1/99
FC04: -2.4
Fitness Rank: 20/99
With FC1 and FC2 criterias opposing eachother, the individual chosen is the average of fitness ranks. Individual 19 from Generation 0, was subsequently selected for implementation. The next phase of the design focuses on arranging these greenhouses relative to one another to create functional microclimatic open spaces within the overall layout.
FINAL PHENOTYPE : Gen 19 | Ind 0
Traditionally, microclimates have been created within built environments through courtyards and market spaces, where tall buildings provide shade and enhance human comfort during extreme climatic conditions. 80 Drawing inspiration from these principles, an experiment was conducted to generate microclimatic conditions along the souk, with various building functions contributing to the overall microclimate. To achieve this, multiple Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed to analyze the ratios, height variations, and dimensions required to design an architectural configuration that effectively supports and sustains a microclimate within the whole architectural design.
To enhance the microclimate within the souk, a heightto-width ratio of the buildings relative to the open market street width was established. Five size variations were analyzed based on five key parameters: balancing sunlight and shadow in the open space, evaluating the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) on the hottest and coldest days on-site, and conducting Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. Among these, the 1:1 ratio emerged as the best configuration, effectively balancing these parameters. This ratio was subsequently adopted for the aggregation across on the larger site.
Second Experiment: Wind direction in the souk
Wind plays a critical role in creating a microclimate by maintaining airflow through the space, which helps cool the surroundings.81 To ensure effective air circulation throughout the souq, an experiment was conducted to determine the optimal orientation of the souq relative to the prevailing wind direction. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, three case scenarios were evaluated, while setting the wind speed at gaza’s average wind speed of 4.5 m/s. The findings concluded that orienting the souq in alignment with the wind direction provides the best airflow, enhancing the microclimate conditions within the space.83
The findings concluded that orienting the souk along the direction of airflow allows air to pass through without obstruction. Misalignment with the airflow reduces wind speed, limiting air circulation in larger souks. This highlights wind as a key factor in shaping the microclimate.
Sources:
83. Komi Bernard Bedra et al., “Automating Microclimate Evaluation and Optimization during Urban Design: A Rhino–Grasshopper Workflow,” Sustainability 15, no. 24 (December 6, 2023): 16613, https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416613.
1. 90 degrees to the direction of the wind
2. 0 degrees to the direction of the wind
3. 45 degrees to the direction of the wind
To enhance the microclimate established within the souk, each typology incorporates courtyards to create dynamic intermediary zones. These courtyards act as fluid connectors, seamlessly linking communal spaces with the souk while balancing social interaction and privacy. They provide passive cooling and ensure high levels of human comfort during the hottest summer days.84 To achieve optimal thermal comfort, a series of four formfinding analyses were conducted.
Three courtyard shapes, square, wide rectangular, and long rectangular, were tested by linearly aggregating the units and assessing them through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, while setting the wind speed at 4.5 m/s. The wide rectangular courtyard shape does not create any stagnant airflow in comparison to the other courtyards.
Sources:
84. Junyou Liu et al., “A Study on the Summer Microclimate Environment of Public Space and Pedestrian Commercial Streets in Regions with Hot Summers and Cold Winters,” Applied Sciences 13, no. 9 (April 23, 2023): 5263, https://doi.org/10.3390/ app13095263.
The wide rectangular courtyard was further analysed to evaluate the impact of varying heights on thermal comfort. Three height configurations were tested: constant height, gradual height variation, and varied heights. These configurations were assessed based on the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) for summer and winter, shading, sunlight hours, and CFD for ventilation, while setting the wind speed at 4.5 m/s. The varying heights outperformed the others since it enhances airflow by disrupting uniform wind patterns, improving ventilation and reducing heat buildup.
The previous findings were applied to aggregated courtyard units to test the influence of height variation on a larger scale. Three configurations were analysed: constant height, gradual height variation, and varied heights across the aggregation. The varied height configuration outperformed others, providing superior thermal comfort and ventilation by disrupting uniform wind patterns, enhancing airflow, and minimizing heat buildup.
In the final analysis, varying pathway widths were introduced alongside the height configurations to examine their impact on the microclimate. Gradual and varied height configurations were tested with different pathway widths, evaluated for UTCI, shading, sunlight exposure, and wind ventilation. The results indicated that varying pathway widths negatively impacted performance, with uniform pathway widths providing the best microclimatic conditions. This was due to disrupted airflow consistency, creating stagnation zones and obstructing cross-ventilation within the courtyard.
The analyses concluded that courtyards with varied heights and uniform pathway widths offer the best microclimatic performance, achieving optimal thermal comfort, effective ventilation, and passive cooling. This approach ensures that the architectural typologies harmonize with the souk’s microclimate while fostering comfortable, dynamic spaces for communal interaction.
By capitalizing on the load-bearing qualities of loam bricks, this project draws upon the barrel vault tradition prevalent throughout Arab vernacular architecture, with a particular focus on Palestinian examples where these forms have been in use for centuries.85 In Palestine, barrel vaults arose from a pragmatic response to local materials, earth, stone, and loam, environmental conditions, and traditional construction techniques. One notable illustration of this heritage can be found in the Old City of Hebron, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, where numerous homes, shops, and public spaces feature barrel vaults to achieve both structural efficiency and passive climate control. 86
Historically, thick earthen vaults provided thermal mass, keeping interiors cooler in the heat of summer and retaining warmth during cooler nights. This concept directly informs the design approach for the modules, which use loam bricks for their natural insulation properties, thereby aligning with passive environmental strategies. Barrel vaults were also selected for their easy construction process, which allows for community participation, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration. Additionally, their self-standing nature eliminates the need for extensive scaffolding, simplifying construction while reducing material use.
Sources:
85. Fathy, Hasan. ‘ARCHITECTURE FOR THE POOR’, n.d. 86. BibleWalks 500+ sites. ‘Holy City of Hebron’. Accessed 3 January 2025. https://www.biblewalks.com/hebron/.
Ease of Assembly
Programmatic Requirements
Self-standing
Furthermore, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was conducted on three arch proportions, 1:3, 1:2.5, and 1:2 of the total width, to verify efficiency in load distribution, where gravity load was applied. The 1:2 arch ratio proved optimal, keeping module widths compact and allowing higher height to be achieved, making the space beneath the vault more usable. By assembling these barrel vaults in varied configurations, the design achieves diverse spatial organizations, ensuring that each typology, whether educational, religious, or communal, is uniquely tailored to its functional and cultural requirements. Moreover, Prayer spaces draw inspiration from vernacular catenary vaults found in mosques, known for expansive spans, generous overhead clearance, and enhanced natural lighting.
Two principal barrel vault types, spatial vaults for core functions and connecting vaults to link modules of different sizes, ensure modular flexibility and streamline construction. For example, educational facilities feature larger barrel vaults at their centre, echoing the communal halls typical of vernacular madrasas*, while smaller vaults and cubic units serve as auxiliary spaces. Similarly, the commercial typology utilizes smaller barrel vaults for shops, storerooms, and transitional areas, mirroring the interplay between indoor and outdoor environments that distinguishes traditional souks.
By merging local vernacular principles and contemporary design methods, the project harnesses loam bricks, vault geometries, and modularity to celebrate a timeless architectural language, finely attuned to climate, culture, and modern programmatic demands. This fusion results in a design that honours tradition while pursuing sustainability, functionality, and cultural resonance in contemporary contexts.
*Madrasa: a Muslim school, college, or university that is often part of a mosque
6-1 Site Network and Zoning
6-2 Greenhouse Aggregation Experiment
6-3 Morphological Experiments: Typologies
6-4 Site Aggregation
6-5 Wastewater Network Experiment
6-6 Water Channel Network Experiment
To facilitate the integration of agricultural infrastructure with public communal spaces, the organization on-site must veer away from conventional methods wherein infrastructure programs are segregated and hidden. Instead, the proposal challenges these norms by prominently revealing features such as greenhouses and retention ponds.
Their strategic placement not only facilitates microclimate generation within public spaces but also establishes a direct connection between agricultural infrastructure and communal programs. This approach envisions a cohesive ecosystem by strategically dispersing and integrating infrastructural elements within public spaces, fostering both connectivity and enhanced microclimate conditions.
The water systems, including a retention pond, ending in the constructed wetland, the system contributing to microclimate generation, blur the boundaries between the built environment and the natural landscape, establishing a symbiotic relationship wherein both coexist interdependently.
A comprehensive analysis of water flow, material, climatic conditions, and people was undertaken to inform the site development workflow. This integrated approach ensures the seamless incorporation of all elements into a unified and cohesive ecosystem.
Given that microclimate generation is a primary factor in the design proposal, the orientation of the souk relative to the prevailing wind direction is crucial for optimizing the placement of infrastructure.
Additionally, walkability is an important consideration for creating public plazas that can divert wind, accommodate retention ponds, and provide spaces for social gathering. Below are the distances and the corresponding times it takes for an adult to cover them at a moderate walking speed. It is imperative that the length from the start of the souk to the public plazas is maintained within walkable distances.
The zoning for the site development was defined by the following parameters:
1.Erosion Zone: A 15-meter buffer along the wetland edge designed to slow water flow, thereby minimizing erosion along the embankment areas.
2.Microclimate Area: A designated zone optimized for construction to facilitate microclimate generation in conjunction with supporting infrastructure.
3.Agricultural Lands: Areas identified for connecting to agricultural infrastructure, supporting the rehabilitation and restoration of the surrounding environment.
4.Retention Ponds: Zones allocated for stormwater collection and treatment, contributing to microclimate generation and sustainable water management.
Building upon the outlined strategy, the site network for microclimate generation was meticulously defined. This process involved careful consideration of the nearby development zones and their interconnections, while also taking into account the topographical features of the site.
Taking the above strategy into consideration, the site network allowing for a microclimate generation was defined. Careful consideration of the nearby development zones and their connections are taken into consideration along with topography
1.Development Zones of M.Arch and M.Sc: Phase 1 development zone established connections between the various proposed development zones surrounding the wadi, fostering connections across the broader masterplan.
2.Topological Analysis:
The development of the microclimate area is closely influenced by topological factors, with the slope playing a critical role in directing water flow and connecting channels to the retention ponds.
The collected data informs the channeling of water through the microclimate development area into retention ponds, where stormwater is treated alongside creating a comfortable environment for the souk.
The water flow ends in the wetland, contributing to aquifer recharge. The retention ponds are strategically located at the center of public plazas, serving as part of a distribution strategy to mitigate flooding during heavy rainfall by slowing down water flow. The size of the ponds was determined based on rainfall conditions, the rainwater catchment area and the flow of water generated from the solar still for microclimate generation.
For the network generation on the site, an analysis of wind direction and topographical data was conducted. The experiment generated a wool thread network that was optimized as the primary development area, alongside which the infrastructure grows. The site concludes with three plazas placed at walkable distances, integrating retention ponds within them.
A Wool Thread network was utilized to define the souq curve, offering valuable opportunities that guided its design while also presenting certain limitations, including:
Opportunities:
1. Responsive to Topography: The algorithm integrates topographical data, ensuring the souq curve aligns with the slope on site.
2. Controled Walkability: The algorithm allows the integration of walkability data, which informs the segmentation of the curve.
Limitations:
1. Limited Control: While rules guide the algorithm, achieving precise shape will require post-processing.
The path divides the development zone into five distinct parts. These parts are assessed based on their area to determine the number of greenhouses needed to support the surrounding agricultural fields effectively.
The number of greenhouses on site and the subsequent division is as follows :
The retention ponds volume is thus calculated with the
The optimized greenhouse morphology, developed during the research phase, is strategically arranged and aggregated. The distance between the two greenhouse placed is arranged according to the 1:1 ratio establised in the research phase for microclimate generation, which doesnt cast shadow on the buildings but casts on the open spaces. The staggering of greenhouses creates spatial intervals that serve as open areas, facilitating air circulation and improving natural ventilation. These open spaces function as microclimate zones, moderating temperature fluctuations and minimizing heat buildup, thereby providing comfortable conditions for agricultural activities and community interactions.
This staggering generating open areas, was analyzed for human comfort through CFD and designed to host public programs. These spaces enhance comfort while bridging the gap between agricultural and public infrastructure, fostering a multifunctional and interconnected environment.
The generated staggering pattern enabled the determination of an optimal placement ratio, allowing flexibility in adjusting the number of greenhouses across the entire design during the aggregation process. The experiment concluded with the understanding that the greenhouse in the direction to the wind should be further ahead to block harsh winds. The first two greenhouses affect eachother due to the angle of the wind, making the number of aggregation of the greenhouses even.
The components and spatial requirements of each typology were identified and integrated into a cohesive kit of parts, designed to respond to varying environmental parameters. To allocate the catalogue parts on-site, the Grasshopper plugin Wasp was utilized to organize the parts within the designated zones, including additional redundant parts for circulation and back-of-house spaces. Multi-objective optimization experiments were performed using Wallacei plugin for each of the five typologies. These experiments adhered to rules such as placing the appropriate connectors near the different types of barrel vaults and the main aggregation logic is trying different widths and lengths for the standardized courtyard size which follows a general rule of height to width 1 :1. Varying the depth of the courtyard can balance smaller barrel vault aggregations, while experimenting with different module counts and sitespecific aggregations ensures optimal environmental performance.
The main objectives for each aggregation were:
1. Maximise sunlight hours on the courtyard
2. Maximise UTCI for human comfort
3. Maximise shadows on courtyard
4. Maximize surface area
The previously established catalogue guided the
aggregation of the modules, with constraints applied to each facility according to its specific spatial requirements. This multi-optimization experiment serves as a foundational model for all five typologies. Following each simulation, a weighted criterion was applied to the outcomes, and the top two Pareto fronts were analyzed using CFD to ensure an optimized air circulation. A higher weight was assigned to UTCI, prioritizing this feature in the evaluation process.
While working with the Wasp plugin, the team identified several opportunities that enhance the design process, as well as some limitations, including:
1. Dynamic Design: Enables organic aggregation, which allows for the creation of diverse typologies from the same modules.
2. Rules Generation: Allows rule-based control for guided yet adaptable outcomes.
3. MMO Integration: Works seamlessly with Grasshopper for multi-objective optimization.
Limitations:
1. Unpredictable Aggregation: Results can be random, sometimes jeopardizing spatial quality.
2. Limited Control: Achieving precise control over the aggregation can be difficult, requiring iterative adjustments.
Each typology requires unique spatial configurations and spaces. Therefore, for each typology, modules were selected from the catalogue of parts based on predefined spatial requirements. For the educational typology, a combination of large modules, smaller modules, and private modules were chosen.
Results:
The optimization algorithm for the educational typology was analyzed using a weighted criteria system to select the optimal design phenotype. The weights assigned were as follows:
• Maximize sunlight hours on the courtyard = 0.8
• Maximize UTCI for human comfort = 0.6
• Maximize shadows on the courtyard = 0.7
• Maximize surface area = 0.9
Population Generation Size:
Generation Count: Population Size:
Algorithm Parameters
Crossover Probability: Mutation Probability: Crossover Distribution Index: Mutation Distribution Index:
Simulation Parameters
No of Genes (Sliders):
No.Of value (SliderValues): Size of Search Space:
FC01: Maximise sunlight hours on the courtyard
FC02: Maximise UTCI for human comfort
FC03: Maximise shadows on courtyard
FC04: Maximize surface area
SD-GRAPHS
PARALLEL COORDINATE GRAPH
FC01: -100004.2
FC02: -34.6
FC03: -46.9
FC04: -6.2
FC01: -61145.28
FC02: -41.1
FC03: -52.9
FC04: -5.7
FC01: 406.906
FC02: -70.3
FC03: -93.6
FC04: -6.2
FC01: -24744.45
FC02: -64.6
FC03: -82.6
FC04: -6.15
FC01: -24744.45
FC02: -64.6
FC03: -82.6
FC04: -6.15
Gen 17: Ind 2
Gen 19: Ind 4
Gen 18: Ind 0
AVERAGE OF FITNESS RANKS
Gen 15: Ind 0
RELATIVE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FITNESS RANKS
Gen 01: Ind 04
Post-analysis focused on two phenotypes: the one representing the average of fitness ranks and the most optimized phenotype identified through CFD analysis. The phenotype ranking average of fitness ranks (15,0) demonstrated superior performance, particularly ensuring no creation of stagnant airflow zones within the courtyard.
FINAL PHENOTYPE: Gen 15 | Ind 0
The recreational typology required a combination of medium modules, smaller modules, and private modules.
Results:
The optimization algorithm for the recreational typology was analyzed using a weighted criteria system to select the optimal design phenotype. The weights assigned were as follows:
• Maximize sunlight hours on the courtyard = 0.8
• Maximize UTCI for human comfort = 0.6
• Maximize shadows on the courtyard = 0.7
• Maximize surface area = 0.9
Population Generation Size:
Generation Count:
Population Size:
Algorithm Parameters
Crossover Probability: Mutation Probability: Crossover Distribution Index: Mutation Distribution Index:
Simulation Parameters
No of Genes (Sliders):
No.Of value (SliderValues): Size of Search Space:
FC01: Maximise sunlight hours on the courtyard
FC02: Maximise UTCI for human comfort
FC03: Maximise shadows on courtyard
FC04: Maximize surface area
SD-GRAPHS
PARALLEL COORDINATE GRAPH
FC01: -17415.6
FC02: -38
FC03: -174.32
FC04: -3.6
FC01: -14778.9
FC02: -35.8
FC03: -197.13
FC04: -3.6
FC01: -20042.3
FC02: -28.4
FC03: -122.1
FC04: -3.2
FC01: -45103.4
FC02: -22.7
FC03: -97.5
FC04: -4.5
FC01: -15804.5
FC02: -31.1
FC03: -157.8
FC04: -7.5
Gen 13: Ind 2
Gen 14: Ind 4
Gen 15: Ind 0
Gen 16: Ind 1
Gen 17: Ind 03
Post-analysis focused on two of the most optimal phenotypes identified through CFD analysis. Gen 16, ind 1 with its wider opening and less height variation, allowed for higher wind speeds in the courtyards, which would be uncomfortable for a human. Gen 17, ind 3 allowed to control the same ensuring no wind stagnation in any of the courtyard areas.
The farmers typology required a combination of small modules, and private modules.
Results:
The optimization algorithm for the farmers typology was analyzed using a weighted criteria system to select the optimal design phenotype. The weights assigned were as follows:
• Maximize sunlight hours on the courtyard = 0.8
• Maximize UTCI for human comfort = 0.6
• Maximize shadows on the courtyard = 0.7
• Maximize surface area = 0.9
Population Generation Size:
Generation Count: Population Size:
Algorithm Parameters
Crossover Probability: Mutation Probability: Crossover Distribution Index: Mutation Distribution Index:
Simulation Parameters
No of Genes (Sliders): No.Of value (SliderValues): Size of Search Space:
FC01: Maximise sunlight hours on the courtyard
FC02: Maximise UTCI for human comfort
FC03: Maximise shadows on courtyard
FC04: Maximize surface area
SD-GRAPHS
PARALLEL COORDINATE GRAPH
FC01: -29422.1
FC02: -25.8
FC03: -82.2
FC04: -2.6
FC01: -43810.6
FC02: -15.9
FC03: -49.9
FC04: -1.8
FC01: -47404.8
FC02: -16.1
FC03: -43.8
FC04: -1.8
FC01: -24315.6
FC02: -28.1
FC03: -103.4
FC04: -2.6
FC01: -28625.6
FC02: -25.5
FC03: -88.7
FC04: -2.6
Gen 05: Ind 02
Gen 06: Ind 01
Gen 06 : Ind 03
Gen 08: Ind 0
Gen 10: Ind 04
Post-analysis focused on two of the most optimal phenotypes identified through CFD analysis. Gen 10, ind 4 performed well as no obstruction was in the direction of the wind glow, creating a courtyard with no stagnant airflow. In gen 08, ind 0, due to an obstruction, the wind could not reach that part of the courtyard to circulate it well.
The prayer typology required a combination of a catenary vault, small modules and private modules.
Results:
The optimization algorithm for the prayer typology was analyzed using a weighted criteria system to select the optimal design phenotype. The weights assigned were as follows:
• Maximize sunlight hours on the courtyard = 0.8
• Maximize UTCI for human comfort = 0.6
• Maximize shadows on the courtyard = 0.7
• Maximize surface area = 0.9
Population Generation Size:
Generation Count: Population Size:
Algorithm Parameters
Crossover Probability: Mutation Probability: Crossover Distribution Index: Mutation Distribution Index:
Simulation Parameters
No of Genes (Sliders): No.Of value (SliderValues): Size of Search Space:
FC01: Maximise sunlight hours on the courtyard
FC02: Maximise UTCI for human comfort
FC03: Maximise shadows on courtyard
FC04: Maximize surface area
SD-GRAPHS
PARALLEL COORDINATE GRAPH
FC01: -22959.2
FC02: -29.07
FC03: -108.6
FC04: -4.8
FC01: -25103.3
FC02: -27.9
FC03: -88.9
FC04: -4.7
FC01: -23988.2
FC02: -33.9
FC03: -117.5
FC04: -4.7
FC01: -22933.6
FC02: -27.2
FC03: -112.4
FC04: -4.8
FC01: -23486.1
FC02: -75.5
FC03: -196.5
FC04: -4.5
Gen 06: Ind 02
Gen 08: Ind 01
Gen 12 : Ind 01
Gen 13: Ind 01
Gen 15: Ind 04
Post-analysis focused on two of the most optimal phenotypes identified through CFD analysis. Gen 13, ind 1 generated a comfortable wind speed in its courtyard in comparison to gen 15, ind 4, allowing for no stagnant airflow zones.
The souk typology required a combination of medium modules, small modules and private modules.
Results:
The optimization algorithm for the prayer typology was analyzed using a weighted criteria system to select the optimal design phenotype. The weights assigned were as follows:
• Maximize sunlight hours on the courtyard = 0.8
• Maximize UTCI for human comfort = 0.6
• Maximize shadows on the courtyard = 0.7
• Maximize surface area = 0.9
Population Generation Size:
Generation Count: Population Size:
Algorithm Parameters
Crossover Probability: Mutation Probability: Crossover Distribution Index: Mutation Distribution Index:
Simulation Parameters
No of Genes (Sliders): No.Of value (SliderValues): Size of Search Space:
FC01: Maximise sunlight hours on the courtyard
FC02: Maximise UTCI for human comfort
FC03: Maximise shadows on courtyard
FC04: Maximize surface area
SD-GRAPHS
PARALLEL COORDINATE GRAPH
FC01: -60441.3
FC02: -33.2
FC03: -177
FC04: -4.3
FC01: -89944
FC02: -51.3
FC03: -162.3
FC04: -4.3
FC01: -92850.8
FC02: -39.2
FC03: -118.6
FC04: -4.3
FC01: -96279.9
FC02: -39.1
FC03: -118.4
FC04: -4.3
FC01: -25393.7
FC02: -63.5
FC03: -207.4
FC04: -3.4
Gen 05: Ind 02
Gen 06: Ind 01
Gen 12 : Ind 01
Gen 14: Ind 02
Gen 15: Ind 03
Post-analysis focused on two of the most optimal phenotypes identified through CFD analysis. Gen 15, ind 3, pulled the air into the courtyard, allowing for wind flow to occur throughout, creating no stagnant zones of airflow and comfortable wind speed.
The individual morphologies of the various agricultural and communal typologies are optimized to foster a microclimate within their respective spaces. To extend this microclimate across the entire souk, these typologies are strategically aggregated, creating a cohesive and effective microclimate throughout the entire site.
Aggregation logic on site allows for direct connections between the agricultural infrastructure with eachother and the communal spaces with eachother. The spatial and locational logic of these connections dictates the placement of various spaces relative to one another. This is translated into spatial relationships to determine physical locations.
A 25M offset from the Souk line is generated to allow for aggregation of the typologies.
Greenhouse patches placement in relation to flat ground level slope is taken into consideration for aggregation
Water courtyards act as semi-public spaces connecting the farmers typology with the public. The water courtyard also acts as the first outlet of solar still water for microclimate generation.
The distance between the greenhouse and the water courtyard is kept minimized for the connections
The experiment is designed to optimize the microclimate of various public open spaces created through the aggregation of typologies. Since the fitness criteria do not show optimization across all parameters, an average fitness rank is used instead.
Population Generation Size:
Generation Count:
Population Size:
Algorithm Parameters
Crossover Probability: Mutation Probability: Crossover Distribution Index: Mutation Distribution Index:
Simulation Parameters
No of Genes (Sliders):
No.Of value (SliderValues):
Size of Search Space:
FC01: Maximize Sunlight Hours
FC02: Maximize Shadows
FC03: Maximize UTCI
SD GRAPHS
FC01: 35
Fitness Rank:0/99
FC02: -3.6
Fitness Rank: 35/99
FC03: -106
Fitness Rank: 0/99
18: Ind 4
18: Ind 2
FC01: 35
Fitness Rank: 0/99
FC02: 2.-8.7
Fitness Rank: 0/99
FC03: -100
Fitness Rank: 75/99
19: Ind 0
FC01: 47
Fitness Rank: 38/99
FC02: -8.7
Fitness Rank: 0/99
FC03: -106
Fitness Rank: 0/99
FC01: 95
Fitness Rank: 70/99
FC02: -6.6
Fitness Rank: 37/99
FC03: -106
Fitness Rank: 0/99
FC01: 95
Fitness Rank: 70/99
FC02: -8.7
Fitness Rank: 0/99
FC03: -106
Fitness Rank: 0/99
19: Ind 1
19: Ind 4
The optimized aggregation is subsequently analyzed using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to evaluate its performance in terms of thermal comfort and airflow dynamics on-site.
The CFD analysis focuses on a section of the site to evaluate airflow distribution with wind entering from the northeast, while setting the wind speed at gaza’s average of 4.5 m/s. The analysis confirms no stagnant areas within the typologies’ courtyards, as the souk effectively draws airflow inward. The central portion of the site enhances wind speed, boosting circulation within the public plaza. These central plazas play a pivotal role in redirecting airflow across various pathways, ensuring smooth movement throughout the site. All typologies experience adequate airflow, with wind speeds reaching a maximum of 5 m/s, a comfortable level for pedestrians in the souk, thereby contributing significantly to microclimate generation.
The UTCI analysis for the site was conducted for the hottest and coldest days, with data collected during the morning, afternoon, and evening. The results indicate that the temperature is consistently maintained within human comfort levels. On the coldest day, the open spaces experience minimal temperature drop, maintaining a comfortable environment , while on the hottest day, the site exhibits lower temperatures than the surroundings, offering cooling.
This demonstrates the effectiveness of the design in moderating extreme temperatures and ensuring thermal comfort throughout the year. The final layer incorporated into the site consists of tree cover and the water system. Trees are strategically distributed along the water channels, which extend from the solar still to the main souq channel, ultimately leading to the retention pond and then to the wetland. These integrated layers of infrastructure and natural elements work together to create the optimized microclimate essential for the site.
Limitations of Ladybug: It cannot import materials, making it unable to analyze or account for how the building’s thermal mass affects temperature.
134. Evaluation of Water Network Designs and Algorithms: Analyzing Opportunities, Parameters, Inputs, and Objectives
The wastewater network design involves collecting wastewater from the surrounding area, integrating it with the existing wastewater infrastructure, and identifying appropriate inlet points within the site’s regional scale. Additionally, the outputs from the wetland network are incorporated into this system. The design prioritizes minimizing intersections between the wastewater network and wetland bodies to adhere to health and environmental regulations.
The network was generated using a differential growth algorithm, where wetland bodies act as repellent points and wastewater facility nodes function as attractors. The design considers an urban reach distance between 8,000 and 15,000 meters, collision distances between 250 and 500 meters, and a threshold range of 8 to 15. The shortest paths within the generated network were assessed and adjusted to optimize connections between input sources and wastewater facilities, ensuring the network aligns with the terrain’s slope and target points and minimizes intersections with water bodies.
Results:
The optimization algorithm for the wastewater network was analyzed, and a weighted criteria system was applied to select the optimal design phenotype. The weights assigned were as follows:
• Minimize network length = 0.4
• Slope adherence = 0.6
• Minimize intersections with water bodies = 0.8
Population Generation Size:
Generation Count:
Population Size:
Algorithm Parameters
Crossover Probability:
Mutation Probability:
Crossover Distribution Index: Mutation Distribution Index:
Simulation Parameters
No of Genes (Sliders):
No.Of value (SliderValues):
Size of Search Space:
FC01: Minimize network length
FC02: Minimize Slope within Standard
FC03: Minimize relative difference between nodes in networks
SD-GRAPHS
PARALLEL COORDINATE GRAPH
FC01: 647.5
FC02: 0.28
FC03: 200.5
FC01: 500.3
FC02: 0.28
FC03: 250.5
FC01: 595.3
FC02: 0.28
FC03: 170.4
FC01: 696.3
FC02: 0.28
FC03: 350.3
FC01: 563.4
FC02: 0.28
FC03: 400.4
The selected phenotype demonstrated strong performance across all fitness values while also intersecting with the necessary nodes, most importantly the camps.The analysis of the network design revealed multiple key intersections at the regional scale, which serve as input points for wastewater collection within the development zone. The network ultimately converges into four primary lines, directing wastewater flow to the treatment facility.
The water channel network is designed to facilitate water flow across the development zone by providing essential infrastructure to transfer water from supply units near the solar stills to the souq channels, retention ponds, and finally into the wetlands, which recharge the aquifer. The primary objective of this network is to ensure seamless connectivity among all water sources while preventing stagnant water accumulation. Additionally, the channels traverse open and communal areas to provide a cooling effect, aligning with the previously defined passive cooling strategies.
The network was generated using a DiffusionLimited Aggregate (DLA) algorithm applied within the development zone. Souk nodes were treated as static points, while dynamic points navigated around gardens and communal spaces, originating from sunken courtyards and creating minimal paths, using Shortest Walk algorithm, to the souq nodes. The design prioritized minimizing channel length, maximizing intersections with water supply, and reducing segmentation to prevent water stagnation.
Results:
For the water channels network, an optimization algorithm was analyzed, incorporating a weighted criteria to determine the final design phenotype. The weights applied were as follows:
• Minimize the length = 0.6
• Maximize intersections with water supply = 1.0
• Minimize segmentation = 0.4
Population Generation Size:
Generation Count:
Population Size:
Algorithm Parameters
Crossover Probability: Mutation Probability: Crossover Distribution Index: Mutation Distribution Index:
Simulation Parameters
No of Genes (Sliders):
No.Of value (SliderValues):
Size of Search Space:
FC01: Minimize network length
FC02: Maximize intersections with water supply
FC03: Minimize segmentation
SD-GRAPHS
FC01: Minimize Network Length
PARALLEL COORDINATE GRAPH
FC02: Maximize intersections with water supply FC03: Minimize segmentation
FITNESS CRITERIA
FC01: 647.5
FC02: 0.28
FC03: 200.5
FC01: 500.3
FC02: 0.28
FC03: 250.5
FC01: 595.3
FC02: 0.28
FC03: 170.4
FC01: 696.3
FC02: 0.28
FC03: 350.3
FC01: 563.4
FC02: 0.28
FC03: 400.4
Gen 08: Ind 08
Gen 11: Ind 08
Gen 15: Ind 07
Gen 21: Ind 07
Gen 26: Ind 02
The selected phenotype, a Pareto front member, exhibited optimal performance by maximizing intersections with the water supply, ensuring robust connectivity at the local scale and enhancing the overall functionality of the water network. It also performed well in minimizing channel length, balancing efficiency with cost-effectiveness.
FINAL PHENOTYPE: Gen 26 | Ind 2
Farmers typology
Souk typology
Agricultural Lands
Retention Ponds
Souk typology
Educational typology
Recreational typology
The brick production and construction process are designed for seamless integration on-site. The construction utilizes a wooden scaffolding framework, minimizing the need for external materials. Bricks are produced on-site using a straightforward compression method and left to dry, ensuring simplicity and accessibility. This process enables easy replication by local communities with minimal manual labor. Once prepared, the bricks are laid on the scaffolding with mortar to construct the building, creating a process that is efficient, sustainable, and community-inclusive.
The stacking of bricks is carried out course by course using a bottom-up approach, as illustrated by the construction of a barrel vault shown on the side. This method ensures structural stability while following a systematic and efficient construction process.
Building the structures involves setting up scaffolding to support the assembly until it stabilizes and bonds sufficiently. Given the use of interlocking bricks, the scaffolding is designed to be minimal. The process begins by assembling stiff wooden cut-outs at regular intervals for one section. A grid of wires is then placed on top, forming a skeletal shell to guide and support the brick construction. After installing the first layer, a wire mesh is laid, followed by plastering, before the second layer of bricks is added. As the vaulting designs are modular, the scaffolding is then removed, and the process is repeated for the next section.
The design initially proposes the use of plastic sheets combined with a date palm mesh as an optimized solution for the first two years. This choice is driven by the immediate availability of materials, allowing for rapid construction during the critical initial phase when food security is a priority. Recognizing the environmental impact of plastic sheets, the design accommodates their future replacement with polycarbonate sheets supported by an aluminum framework. This transition is envisioned for later years as the infrastructure matures and resources become more readily available, ensuring both sustainability and long-term functionality.
The retention ponds effectively bringing a new dimension of immersion for the community to experience. It provides multiple benefits such as treating stormwater, generating microclimate, providing habitats for flora and fauna, and enhancing the aesthetic and spatial quality of the indoor and outdoor spaces for the community to enjoy. The water channels distributed across the site play a vital role in generating a microclimate. Additionally, they serve
as primary circulation pathways, facilitating movement within and across the site while enhancing environmental comfort. Proximity to the system of water flow fosters educational opportunities and awareness across all age groups, nurturing a sense of shared ownership and deeper connection to the land awareness across all age groups, nurturing a sense of shared ownership and deeper connection to the land.
Fig 148. Plan detailing the retention pond within the souk
Dispersing and revealing parts of the infrastructural spaces around the public programs resulted in a gradient of transitions between the different programs on site. The boundaries between the built and natural environment have become blurred, creating a seamless and immersive experience for the community.
The proposal envisioned a whole-systems approach for Gaza, prioritizing the intersections of ecology and architecture, reimagining infrastructure as part of the public realm. The ambition to blur the lines between infrastructure and environment was achieved in the design proposal and goes beyond architecture by expanding the systems understanding to a more extensive network along the wadi. Placemaking was the guiding factor for the design intent, allowing the interventions to operate on different scales, from material experimentation, building morphology, site planning, and network development. In the M.Sc phase, placemaking was created by integrating wastewater ponds into public spaces with active community participation. In the M.Arch phase, the created spaces foster a shared microclimate that not only enhances environmental conditions but also facilitates placemaking, seamlessly connecting agricultural infrastructure with community spaces. These interconnected layers ensure that the design is both functional and community-driven. A critical component is the integration of water systems, which link the M.Sc and M.Arch phases. Water channels connect retention ponds to wetlands, completing a feedback loop in which wastewater from agricultural zones is treated and redirected to irrigate agricultural plots, reinforcing ecosystem regeneration.
The M.Sc and M.Arch phases connect to each other at the 30-year mark, feeding into and supporting one another. Each part of the design process informed the other with the understanding that each component is part of one whole ecosystem. Ground-up is a vision for how insertions in the urban system can become activation points for a regenerative future.
Having established the importance of placemaking and community participation, the design for the architecture focused on leveraging local materials and manpower. A low-tech system was explored through the design of compressed soil blocks stabilized by magnesium oxide, and prototyping gave insight into how untrained persons could produce the bricks. Concluding from the material experiments, the compressive nature of the soil blocks was then leveraged in a vaulting structural system. The proposed structural system has certain limitations, notably the creation of dimly lit spaces within some of the vaults. To address this, incorporating mashrabiya or strategically designed openings could be explored to enhance natural light while maintaining internal comfort levels. While the kit of parts streamlined the development of final morphologies, it inadvertently limited opportunities for user participation in spatial zoning and morphology generation. Expanding and categorizing the kit of parts could empower locals to construct modules tailored to their specific needs, introducing flexibility and adaptability
into the design process. This strategy could be extended across the 30-year plan, enabling the generation of additional typologies such as medical facilities or other public building spaces, fostering community-driven growth.
Further limitations in the material experimentation include not being able to source soil directly from the site, which would have been more accurate and context-specific. Instead, the experiment recreated the loam soil by combining different percentages of clay, silt, and sand, which led to some inaccuracies in the data. In addition, date palm fibres, a key component, tended to clump together, leading to inconsistencies in the experimental results and variations in the brick designs. This nonuniformity impacted the bricks’ overall structural integrity and performance, requiring further refinement in the mixing and processing methods to ensure more consistent and reliable outcomes.
The generated morphologies followed a proximity-based programming logic, ensuring spatial interrelation and aggregation driven by environmental considerations. These spaces successfully demonstrated connections between agriculture and the community, creating microclimatic conditions that ensure human comfort yearround. However, a key limitation is the lack of provisions for future expansion of the same building typology. As the population grows or needs change, new morphologies would need to be created instead of adapting existing structures.
Additionally, the spatial programming disconnected direct linkages between building typologies, resulting in a segregated layout in certain areas.
At the phasing level, the design framework could be adapted to create additional plots and buildings aligned with evolving community requirements. However, the plan does not currently foster a tightly packed configuration or address the accommodation of future expansions comprehensively. Refinements in the logic for expansion and connectivity could be explored in later phases of the project to enhance adaptability and integration.
The M.Sc phase of the project introduced an application enabling the community to share their opinions on future expansions and access information about the site, including instructions for creating soil bricks. This application could be further developed to enhance the phasing system and foster greater user interaction during the rehabilitation of the destroyed agricultural lands. By expanding its functionality, the app could support various scales of user engagement, ranging from exploring kit-of-parts and morphology variations to planning phasing strategies and spatial layouts for large-scale developments.
The design process employed advanced computational workflows, including network generation, multi-objective optimization, finite element analysis, and environmental analysis. These methodologies provided a data-driven foundation while broadening the scope for innovative design solutions. Although the final network design was refined by the design team, the generated networks established a systematic approach to phasing, seamlessly integrating water and soil connections through wetlands and wastewater systems. This integration facilitated the flow of water across the wadi and its adjacent neighbourhoods, ensuring functionality and cohesion.
At a regional scale, the project extended these connections by integrating water and soil systems with souks, public infrastructure, and agricultural facilities, transforming the site into a vibrant economic and social hub. The inclusion of retention ponds and water channels reinforced the seamless connection between built and natural environments, supporting ecosystem regeneration.
The spatial programming and site development plan deliberately avoided rigid segregation, fostering an inclusive environment that strengthens the community’s connection to the infrastructure. Central to the design is the incorporation of microclimate considerations, ensuring optimal comfort across all spaces at any time of day. This approach promotes placemaking, cultivating a sense of ownership and engagement. By emphasizing regenerative design principles, the project underscores the importance of awareness, education, and shared responsibility, encouraging the community to actively maintain a symbiotic relationship with the infrastructure and environment that sustains them.
Conclusion
Ground-Up addressed the gaps in rebuilding efforts that often compartmentalize the urgent need for environmental rehabilitation. The proposal integrates a souk with agricultural infrastructure in the M.Arch phase and wastewater treatment and composting facilities in the M.Sc phase along Wadi Gaza. By bridging the gap between ecology and architecture, the project approached the design as a holistic ecosystem, with placemaking as a central driver in the design process. The interconnected systems between the two phases create a closed-loop ecosystem, emphasizing the synergy between different components. Future studies could expand this approach to other aspects of the global Wadi network, such as renewable energy systems. The project illustrates the completion of essential food security systems, reshaping perspectives on the future of the built environment. 87 88
Sources:
87. A et al., “There’s a Water Crisis in Gaza That the End of Fighting Might Not Solve,” NPR, December 29, 2023, sec. Goats and Soda, https://www.npr.org/2023/12/29/1221571110/gaza-water-israel-crisis-hamas.
88. Abdelmageed, “Update on the Situation in Gaza and Red Sea.”
The breakdown of water needed for Horticulture, between 2025 and 2035:
Materials such as sandstone, rubble, loam, and salt are abundantly available in Gaza. These materials are systematically compared and analysed across various factors such as resiliency, durability, and sustainability to select one that meets all specified requirements. Sandstone, though plentiful, necessitates substantial manpower for extraction and extensive treatment, particularly near the Wadi area. Rubble, while accessible, requires heavy machinery for crushing or, if used in its natural state, limits the design capabilities of structures. Despite its abundance, the extraction and utilisation of salt from the salt brine waste of desalination plants demands significant treatment and maintenance for construction near the Wadi.
Conversely, loam stands out as a viable material option. It is the most abundant material in these sites and alleviates the need to source other valuable materials. Moreover, its utilisation leverages local skills and traditional construction methods, promoting community-based construction and self-reliance. The material is readily available and can be embraced by the community as a self-driven initiative. This approach further feeds into a more extensive system of rejuvenation by allowing soil healing using low technology, which then serves as a base material system. These loam blocks, if damaged, do not degrade the soil condition but instead promote a sustainable material cycle, enabling the system to be rebuilt repeatedly without harming the soil.
The soil in different regions is susceptible to various deposition and erosion processes, with its composition varying according to site-specific minerals. Factors such as elevation, proximity to water, and cross-section depth affect soil quality and composition. The soil within the Wadi and its underlying layers are analysed to understand the composition and geographical features of the varied soil types that comprise it.
Wadi terrains are particularly conducive to agricultural soil content. In Gaza, the clasts are primarily calcareous2 with high mountain ranges to the east. This gravel3 horizon underlies the loess4 sediments. The loess in Wadi Gaza is primarily uniform in composition, ranging in thickness from 5 to 10 meters. Loess sediment is formed due to dry weather conditions, which are shifted by wind, containing an average composition of 19.9% clay, 39.2% silt, and 40.6% sand, which classify as loam. Additionally, a few sand dunes can be observed along the course of the Wadi to the east.
Beneath the Wadi, stratified layers of clay, kurkar5, and sandstone extend to a depth of 100 meters. Below these layers lies the Gaza aquifer, vital for both agricultural and domestic use. This highlights the importance of understanding and preserving the geological and hydrological characteristics of the Wadi Gaza.
Earth is a fundamental natural building material that is available in many regions worldwide. Often sourced directly from the construction site during excavation, earth materials are integral to the traditional building practices in Gaza, particularly mud construction. This method, characterised by thick walls and slabs, significantly enhances thermal comfort within buildings. Earth construction is highly adaptable to local environmental conditions, providing resilience against temperature fluctuations and seismic activity. Earth construction practices require a base material, typically
any type of soil, an additive to improve tensile strength and maintain structural integrity, and a stabiliser to bind the materials together, enhancing water resistance and overall strength. Various techniques that utilise this strategy are examined to understand the methods the locals prefer.
Rammed earth construction uses moist earth compacted into layers into formwork. The formwork typically consists of two parallel walls, interconnected by spacers, into which the earth is poured and compacted by ramming. This method results in monolithic construction, which enhances the longevity of the building. Each layer of rammed earth is typically 50 to 80 cm high. Once one course is completed and partially dried, the next, slightly moister course is rammed on top.
Adding straw as a binder and cement as a stabiliser is necessary to improve rammed-earth constructions' structural integrity and water resistance. Only 2% of the local population prefers rammed earth construction, which requires 20 days to build a typical tiny house.
Compressed Stabilised Earth Bricks (CSEBs) are produced by compacting a mixture of moist earth and a stabiliser, typically cement, using a manual press to form soil blocks. This process entails blending sandy loam with water, cut straw, and cement and subsequently curing the mixture in wooden moulds. The surfaces of the bricks are further refined using manual tools, timber pieces, trowels, or wire.
A disadvantage of CSEBs is the necessity for a cement content ranging from 4% to 8% to achieve sufficient strength. This requirement stems from the insufficient water content or dynamic impact needed to activate the binding properties of clay minerals. In the absence of cement, the dry compressive strength of these blocks is generally lower than that of handmade adobe bricks. Maintaining a consistent moisture level and composition in the soil mix is crucial. Variations in these factors can affect the volume of material and the pressure during compression, leading to inconsistencies in the height and strength of the bricks. Despite these disadvantages, 87% of the local population prefers this construction method, with 28 days required for the cement to dry.
Wattle and daub is a traditional construction technique that involves creating walls from a woven lattice of wooden strips, called wattle, which is then coated with a mixture of soil, clay and straw known as daub. The wattle framework provides structural support and flexibility, while the daub mixture, applied in layers, hardens to form a durable and insulating wall. In order to make the building system more water resilient and longevity, lime can be added to the soil.
Although the construction process is labour-intensive and demands skilled craftsmanship for proper execution, the organic materials usually added to the system attract pests and compromise the structural integrity. This method of construction is 29% preferred among the locals and requires only 16 days for the construction of a small house.
The technique of spraying loam allows the earth to create an evenly distributed loam mixture onto surfaces, allowing for faster and more efficient application using the equipment. Sprayed loam uses the wattle as its primary structural element, with the daub being sprayed on in different layers alternating with straw to hold the soil together. This technique requires cement as a stabiliser to make the structure water-resistant.
One of the significant disadvantages is that it requires high technology and the use of specialised equipment, which increases the complexity of construction. It also requires multiple layers sprayed with the right consistency of the mixtures to make a thick wall. Less than 1% of the locals prefer this method of construction, and it takes 30 days to build a small house.
In this type of construction, buildings are filled with elements formed by wrapping straw loam around a wooden batten. This construction method requires secondary vertical supports fixed at intervals of 15 to 20 cm within the framework. The "bottles" are created by placing masses of the soil mixture onto the centre of a cross formed by two bundles of straw. The ends of the bundles are then lifted around the loam, shaping it into bottle-like forms covered with additional loam. The bottle is then oriented horizontally, with its neck wound around the vertical support, while the base is pressed against the neck of the preceding bottle.
This type of construction is usually extremely labour-intensive and requires excess weather protection by adding lime. Less than 1% of the locals prefer this method of construction, which takes 22 days to build a small house.
Loam-filled hoses are long, tubular bags made from durable materials like woven polypropylene or geotextile fabric. They are filled with a mixture of sandy loam soil. The bags are typically stacked in layers and arranged to form barriers or walls. Loam-filled hoses are advantageous due to their flexibility and adaptability to different terrains, allowing them to be quickly deployed and shaped according to the situation's specific needs.
One major disadvantage of these hoses is that they require periodic maintenance and inspection to ensure the integrity of the bags and the effectiveness of the barrier over time. Less than 1% of the locals prefer this method of construction, which takes 22 days to build a small house.
Additive agents are often necessary in earth construction to achieve greater structural integrity and resistance to cracking. They help reduce shrinkage and distribute stress more evenly. Fibres enhance durability by making the material more resilient to environmental factors such as erosion and water infiltration, which ultimately increases the material's lifespan.
Additives can be categorised into two main types: inorganic additives such as cement, lime, gypsum, fly ash, and bitumen and organic additives like straw, palm fibres, coconut coir, plant resins, biopolymers, and animal-based binders. Depending on the type of additive and its properties used, several methods are employed. These commonly include mechanical mixing to ensure even distribution and compaction. Some processes involve heating the soil-additive mixture to expedite chemical reactions and enhance bonding.
In Gaza, selecting additives necessitates a comprehensive understanding of locally available materials, curing time, energy consumption, environmental impact, labour requirements, and physical properties such as compressive strength, tensile strength, and overall durability. Various additives are compared against each other to meet specific criteria, including fabrication processes, longevity, time efficiency, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, feedback loop integration, reusability, and suitability for architectural-scale applications.
Date Palm Fibre: An Additive Agent
Date palms in Gaza are one of the most abundant resources and native materials in the region. Date palm fibre, extracted from the leaves and trunks of date palm trees, is a versatile natural material widely used across various industries. Known for its durability and strength, date palm fibre exhibits excellent mechanical properties, including high tensile strength and resilience to moisture and decay. As a byproduct of the date palm industry, the fibre's sustainable nature also contributes to finding new uses in construction materials and composite manufacturing, highlighting its potential as a renewable resource.
Date palm fibres can be extracted from various parts of the palm tree, including the fabric layer surrounding the tree, the leaflets (fronds), and the fruit stalks. The source of these fibres significantly influences their strength and performance in earth blocks. According to El Bourki, Koutous, and Hilali (2023), the highest cellulose content is found in the leaflets of the date palm tree, which directly correlates to the strength of the fibres. Additionally, leaflet fibres are more accessible to extract, requiring less labour than other tree parts.
The extraction process begins with cutting the leaves from the tree, which facilitates faster tree growth and allows for efficient fibre extraction. The leafy parts are then stripped using a knife to expose the fibres. They are sun-dried and beaten to loosen the fibres further and separate the individual fibre strands. Finally, these fibres are combed to remove debris and align them for use.
The Role of the Stabilizer and Selection
Stabilisers enhance soil's strength, durability, and resilience through chemical or physical modifications, producing a stable and cohesive material. Common stabilisers like cement, lime, and fly ash improve load-bearing capacity, reduce permeability, and control shrink-swell characteristics to mitigate erosion. Classified by function, chemical stabilisers such as cement and lime enhance soil through reactions, while physical stabilisers such as geotextiles provide mechanical reinforcement.
Despite their effectiveness in improving soil characteristics, they commonly used stabilisers such as cement and lime
present challenges in terms of availability and sustainability in Gaza's construction practices. The production of cement and lime is energy-intensive and contributes substantially to 5-8% of the total global carbon emissions. This environmental impact underscores the requirement for stabilisers that do not harm soil quality when disposed of or recycled.
Magnesium oxide (MgO) is a highly effective stabiliser in soil block construction, significantly improving their structural integrity and durability. When MgO reacts with water, it forms magnesium hydroxide, which binds soil particles together, greatly enhancing the compressive strength and cohesion of the soil matrix. Additionally, exposure to carbon dioxide in the air facilitates the hardening of the blocks. This chemical interaction not only strengthens the mechanical properties of the soil blocks but also enhances their resistance to environmental factors such as weathering and erosion. Importantly, when these blocks are eventually crushed and reintegrated into the soil, MgO poses no environmental risks, ensuring their safety and sustainability in construction practices.
Magnesium oxide extraction from desalination plant brine employs a methodical process centred on heat application. Initially, brine evaporation is facilitated either by solar heat or additional heating, promoting the formation of magnesium chloride crystals. These crystals are subsequently harvested and subjected to further treatment in a kiln, where temperatures ranging between 900 to 1100 degrees Celsius drive the separation of chloride gas from the residual magnesium oxide in an open environment. The resulting magnesium oxide is then crushed into a powdered form suitable for integration into soil as a stabiliser. This method underscores a systematic approach to resource utilisation, optimising the extraction of magnesium oxide from brine while ensuring its effective application in enhancing soil properties.
Earth construction practices require a base material, typically any type of soil, an additive to improve tensile strength and maintain structural integrity, and a stabiliser to bind the materials together, enhancing water resistance and overall strength.70 Various techniques that utilise this strategy are examined in detail to understand which methods are preferred by the locals.
Traditional construction methods are prone to weather damage and require frequent maintenance, labourintensive processes, and costly materials. These methods may also limit vertical expansion and modern designs. Therefore, a construction system that supports community involvement, environmental compatibility, and safe reuse of materials is essential.
Sources:
Fig 153. Analysis of the methods of construction using loam
The organization of the site plan is determined by the three main programs - wastewater processes, soil remediation, and public community. A series of experiments are conducted to define optimal locations and clustering for effective patterns and intersections among these programs. There are four steps in defining the site zoning plan:
1. Optimization of the WTTP and the clean water pond locations using a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm.
2. Defining zones based on environmental and programmatic parameters and running an optimization for the location of the development zone clusters using a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm.
3. Designing the constructed wetlands as dictated by set parameters applied computationally.
4. Definition of the main connections with the use of a woolthread edge bundling algorithm.
Wastewater Network Experiment
elevation considerations. The first connection is generated from the input points to the WWTP which outputs towards the ponds which retain the processed wastewater from the facility, slowing down the water flow into the wadi.
The first experiment deals with the flow of wastewater with defined inputs and outputs to effectively transfer wastewater from outside the site for treatment and recharge into the wadi. The inputs for the experiment take note of the location of the waste sources, slope and Fig
Wastewater Sources
Dumpsites
Residential Clusters
Campsites
Slope
Elevation
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Ponds
The set-up for this experiment was discussed in the Research Development chapter on page (PAGE NO). The multi-objective optimization was run using the Wallacei X plug-in for Grasshopper. Results show improved fitness values for all four objectives in the standard deviation graphs while the density of phenotypes moving down towards better values in the parallel coordinate plot had increased. More importance is given to water collection potential for the ponds (FC04) as the system will use less energy if the location is moving with the natural water flow patterns. Less material to be used for the underground piping is also of importance hence FC01is given the second highest weightage.
The best performing phenotypes were examined and ranked using the weighted criteria. Individual 10 from Generation 17 was the highest performing phenotype and was therefore chosen to define the wastewater network on site.
Population Generation Size: Generation Count: Population Size:
Algorithm Parameters Crossover Probability: Mutation Probability: Crossover Distribution Index: Mutation Distribution Index:
Simulation Parameters No of Genes (Sliders): No.Of value (SliderValues): Size of Search Space:
FC01: Minimize WW Pipe Length
FC02: Minimize Relative Differences of Distances Between Nodes
FC03: Target Volume for Ponds
FC04: Maximize Pond Water Collection
SD-GRAPHS
Minimize WW Pipe Length
Minimize Relative Differences of Distances Between Nodes
PARALLEL COORDINATE GRAPH
Target Volume for Ponds
Maximize Pond
FITNESS CRITERIA
BEST IN RELATIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FITNESS RANKS
Gen 10: Ind 18
FC01: 1334.238191
FC02: 126.715474
FC03: 7465.001524
FC04: -35967
FC01: 1021.048139
FC02: 7.192291
FC03: 3157.81529
FC04: -39015
FITNESS CRITERIA
PARETO FRONT KMEANS: 8
Gen 42: Ind 4
AVERAGE OF FITNESS RANKS
Gen 17: Ind 10
FC01: 998.668172
FC02: 66.475657
FC03: 9838.740953
FC04: -22968
FC01: 1029.596065
FC02: 90.694065
FC03: 5221.718686
FC04: -39877
FC01: 1004.553427
FC02: 170.015662
FC03: 2609.612831
FC04: -33681
FC01: 1100.344072
FC02: 34.732102
FC03: 2441.916486
FC04: -29448
FC01: 1261.969912
FC02: 174.180188
FC03: 10053.96264
FC04: -45369
FC01: 1553.422119
FC02: 18.925344
FC03: 11896.657906
FC04: -45125
FC01: 1370.081543
FC02: 1.886771
FC03: 3793.666734
FC04: -30070
FC01: 1000.394929
FC02: 47.193046
FC03: 5894.014274
FC04: -27997
Gen 48: Ind 12
Gen 32: Ind 17
Gen 32: Ind 18
Gen 37: Ind 6
Gen 10: Ind 4
Gen 13: Ind 19
Gen 19: Ind 13
The chosen phenotype satisfies the minimum volume requirement for the ponds which will act as the secondary sedimentation tanks of the wastewater treatment plant. The treatment plant is located near the three nodes for the wastewater pipe, thus achieving less length for the pipes in comparison to points that are located towards the center of the site. The pareto front solutions showed a preference for the upper left corner of the site and the best performing phenotypes show small variations, indicating that optimization was achieved.
Total Pipe Lengths: 1,021 m
Pond Volume: 30,079 m3
This experiment aims to define the zoning clusters. The WTTP zone and pond locations were taken from the previous experiment as the starting base of the set-up. There were 2 steps for this simulation:
1. Setting the composting and erosion zones based on environmental parameters.
2. Multi-objective optimization for the development zones.
The erosion zone was derived from a 20 meter offset from the edge of the wadi. This measure is taken to ensure that the embankments of the wadi will be stabilized through terracing which will be shown in the wetlands detailing section.
The composting zone was defined by taking the prevailing wind vector and situating it in the areas that will not allow the wind to carry foul odor towards the zones for public programs. The zones for public programs are initially generally defined towards the zone enclosed by the bounds of the WTTP and clean water ponds. The angle between the vector towards the public programs and the prevailing wind vector was measured and values above 130 degrees were taken as zones wherein the wind would be blowing away from the public programs.
The development zones were defined through an evolutionary algorithm that explored different options for clustering. The bounds for the cluster generation area were defined by connecting the nodes of the WTTP, ponds, and the wadi.
WWTP Zone
15m radius around WWTP node to reach target of 24,892.06 m2
Erosion Zone
20m offset from wadi edge for terracing.
Angle of points on site were projected towards the triangulated area from the nodes from the WW network experiment and the vectors were measured against the prevailing wind vector. Angle measurements greater than 130 degrees were taken.
Nodes were connected to enclose a zone for the generation of clusters for the buildable zone.
A multi-objective optimization was set-up to generate the clusters within the defined development zone. This allowed for a greater variation in potential solutions for the clusters as compared to manual selection and evaluation. The computation workflow was able to generate 1,000 options which were evaluated based on three objectives: reaching the target area as calculated for the 25% buildable area for the whole site, achieve close to equal distances between the WWTP and ponds for users to easily navigate the different public and semipublic areas for recreation and educational purposes, and to reach at least 3-5 clusters to provide variation and spread of the built structures.
The best performing phenotype based on the weighted criteria was Individual 16 from Generation 48 was the highest ranking phenotype and was chosen to define the development zone on site as seen below. The search space was not as extensive as the experiment was kept simple with the sole purpose of expanding the search space for clustering options.
Population Generation Size: Generation Count: Population Size:
Algorithm Parameters Crossover Probability: Mutation Probability: Crossover Distribution Index: Mutation Distribution Index:
Simulation Parameters
No of Genes (Sliders): No.Of value (SliderValues): Size of Search Space:
FC01: Maximize Target Dev’t Area
FC02: Minimize Relative Differences to WWTP and Ponds
FC03: Maximize Generated Clusters
SD-GRAPHS
FC01: Maximize Target Dev’t Area
PARALLEL COORDINATE GRAPH
FC02: Minimize Relative Differences to WWTP and Ponds
FC03: Maximize Generated Clusters
FITNESS CRITERIA
FC01: 10824.036391
FC02: 609.377862
FC03: 4
FC01: 3000
FC02: 448.199793
FC03: 2
FC01: 4388.3952
FC02: 447.120088
FC03: 4
FC01: 8761.299286
FC02: 392.238847
FC03: 4
BEST IN RELATIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FITNESS RANKS
Gen 1: Ind 10
AVERAGE OF FITNESS RANKS
Gen 48: Ind 16
Gen 25: Ind 15
Gen 31: Ind 8
The wetlands span a major area of the site, effectively bringing a new dimension of immersion for the community to experience. It provides multiple benefits such as treating stormwater, providing habitats for flora and fauna, and enhancing the aesthetic and spatial quality of the indoor and outdoor spaces for the community to enjoy. Proximity to the wetlands fosters educational opportunities and awareness across all age groups, nurturing a sense of shared ownership and deeper connection to the land.
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