WeAreDESCO Launches Student Contest to Create a Plan to Rebuild Gaza
WeAreDESCO calls on young architects and students to develop a plan that helps Palestinians in Gaza rebuild with dignity.
WeAreDESCO, an international architectural competition platform, calls on young architects and students to develop a plan that helps Palestinians in Gaza rebuild with dignity, having launched the first phase of their 'From Rubble to Shelter' competition.
"Building with dignity means giving people in Gaza the chance to live normally, to feel safe, and to experience the full measure of their humanity," Mariam Tarek, WeAreDESCO's competition manager, said. "Every home, every shelter, is a step toward restoring what they deserve: life with hope, respect, and belonging."
The Rebuilding Gaza Competition asks participants to work across four phases of reconstruction: 1) Rubble Control & Temporary Shelter, 2) Core Infrastructure & Reconstruction, 3) Community & Economic Reintegration, and 4) Preserving Heritage.
Phase 1 responds to the dire conditions on the ground in Gaza, where 90% of houses are damaged or destroyed. Families are living in overcrowded and unsanitary tents, partially collapsed buildings, and makeshift structures. In response, WeAreDESCO asks participants to design a low-cost, easily constructed temporary shelter unit that families in Al-Shati, Gaza City, can build themselves using some of the 40 to 60 million tonnes of rubble in Gaza. The goal is to provide immediate, practical housing solutions while communities await long-term reconstruction.
“For young designers, this responsibility is not only technical, but also requires engaging with Palestinian voices and allowing those narratives to guide design decisions," WeAreDESCO's Arwa Ibrahim said.
Applications are now open for Phase 1 via the registration link on WeAreDESCO's website. Submissions close in September, when both the longlist and shortlist will be revealed. The final winner will be announced in October.
