PROJECT DATA -

Earth-bags school in the desert

Location -

Gaza strip, Um al Nasser village

Year -

2011

Client -

Vento di Terra NGO

Donor -

Consultancies -

Total Cost -

180.000 €

Duration -

May - December 2011

SHORT DESCRIPTION

The children's center "Terra dei Bamabini" in Um al Nasser village has teamed up with MCA Mario Cucinella Architects. It was built with the local community using the earthbags technique. The project aims to promote the local identity through the reinterpretation of the "Bedouin tent". The tent is replaced by a ceiling, folding in on itself, that resembles the different angles of the cloths. It is an iron covering system that is ventilated and sloped to ensure recovery of water and the integration of solar panels. The horizontal lines of Bedouin tissues are represented by wooden brise soleil that allow to maintain the façade on the inner courtyard completely open and the external one totally closed with wall of earth and the control of sun radiation. The center is equipped with a rainwater collection system that stores the water collected through the roof in an underground tank. The photovoltaic panel system takes an advantage of the inclinations of the roof and provides energy to the structure.

Unfortunately the school complex was destroyed during an invasion occurred in 2014.