Rethinking museum typology : The Palestinian crisis as the case

German Jordanian University

Project idea

breaking the notion of rigidity in the Palestinian “Presented” discourse, through creating a dialog between the Palestinian Political Realm and social reality focusing on feelings and atmospheres.

Project description

This project discusses various aspects including design, social, politics, history and urban issues related to the Palestinian cause. Seeking another method to portray the cause is needed as it is currently being turned into a political matter losing all the important other aspects.
Through this project, a detailed research regarding the history and status was made in order to have a solid base of information to work on, as the research deals with different aspects; it was divided into stages to keep it from further complications.
The research discusses the way the Palestinian cause is portrayed as, to avoid creating a cliché or a recycled product. The fact that the Palestinian cause is far from over gave the idea of engaging the Palestinian-built environment, creating another method of presentation; this method gave the museum an urban effect in addition to its other architectural qualities.
I decided to take the job of not only the architect but also the content creator and narrative writer through this project. As the history and reality of the Palestinians were not exclusive to political matters, an introduction and showcase of the Palestinian daily life patterns, culture, and origins was the main approach in designing the narrative of this museum.
Creating a different experience for me meant experimenting with ways of engaging the public with the actual museum, giving it other roles and importance to the public. Having it in a residential context meant respecting the surroundings and trying to minimise negative impacts on the area.

Technical information

Environment, sustainability and accessibility formed a base for the design as the museum needs to be accessible by all age groups and genders, and of course people with disabilities. In addition to that, natural light and latest technologies also played a significant role in the design.

This museum targets all nationalities and age groups, which is why the focus on atmospheres, emotions, metaphors, and architecture played a huge role in creating its contents, the relationship between history and reality, daily life and political discourse was a key anchor in the design process of the museum.