Our doctoral student and his team wins international architectural and planning competition | The Faculty of Architecture at the Gdańsk University of Technology

The competition, titled “The Revival of Gaza Seaport: Water as a Catalyzer” was part of a summer school held in Amman, Jordan. This event provided a platform for emerging architects and planners from across the Mediterranean region to showcase their talents, gain exposure, and engage with their communities, all within the context of a Mediterranean agenda and knowledge exchange.

Bahaa Bou Kalfouni, serving as the coordinator from our Department of Urban Design and Regional Planning, collaborated with his team, including Arch. Diana Enab (An-Najah National University), Arch. Yaqeen Shalabi (German Jordanian University), Arch. Tala Salhi (Jordan University), Arch. Raneem Faris (Birzeit University), and Rahaf Asmar (Sapienza University of Rome), to secure the win with their project, “Port Pop-ups for Reviving Gaza.”

The award ceremony and exhibition took place in October 2024 at the Centre for Mediterranean Architecture (CAM) in Crete, Greece, as part of the celebration of UMAR's 30th anniversary.

The project advocates for a bottom-up strategy in the reconstruction of Gaza, emphasizing the role of society as the primary engine for rebuilding. It envisions the port as a catalyst for economic activities that can extend into the heart of Gaza’s old city, while recovering essential community infrastructure. The approach balances temporary pop-up constructions with permanent structures to revitalize the urban fabric and encourage productive activities in the city.

An interview with Bahaa Bou Kalfouni, detailing the competition and their award-winning project:

Congratulations to Bahaa Bou Kalfouni and his team on this remarkable achievement!