DrZin's Design WorkBase: Sem 1: 2012/2013 : DrZin's Workbase Program

SCHOOL Behind the Wall

Palestine was invaded by British several years before it was occupied by zionist Israeli regime started in 1948. Palestinian people who lived freely in peace in their own land were threatened, chased out or killed by the regime to allow them to achieve their goal. Today, most of the Palestinian land were occupied and used by Israeli public, private and individuals who are alien to Palestinian land before. Palestinian people were forced to live in a difficult situation and conditions in the occupied land of West Bank and Gaza Strip. Surrounded by walls and denied basic facilities.

The adult were denied of jobs and their properties often confiscated and destroyed. Up to 11,000 of the Palestinian adult and young were imprisoned due to some simple act of resistance to Israeli oppression. The Palestinian families are always in danger and difficult situation and the future of Palestinian people is very uncertain.

For more then 60 years, people of Palestine are suffering and the right to education among school children are also denied. They only have hope.The concrete walls built by Israeli zionist regime surrounding their homes and villages are another type of oppression imposed by israeli.

The blockade on Gaza strip was imposed by Israeli and it's allies since 2006. Almost all types of goods from necessity to general uses were not allowed to enter Gaza strip of Palestine. The situation worsened when Israeli attacked Gaza strip using all kinds of weapons in 2008 and early 2009. There are 1500 killed and more then 4500 were injured, among them were schoolchildren.

The attack on Gaza not only destroyed many infrastructures but also school buildings and facilities. Children of Palestine are denied for basic and proper education.

More then 60% of the population in Gaza are children (around 1 mil out of 1.7mil population), and children are particularly vulnerable in situations of armed conflict. The UN Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator (OCHA) indicates that children are among victims killed and injured as a result of the recent air strikes. It is critical that humanitarian assistance, including food, medical supplies, educational items, equipment and other types of goods be allowed into Gaza to address the urgent needs of children and women.

Design a school complex in Gaza

My workbase for this semester will be focusing on the design of primary or secondary school in Palestine, particularly in Gaza. Students in my workbase will require to make a reading related to topics on several issues related to Palestine issues, education issues and challenges to provide decent education facilities to the young community in Palestine which is currently under Israeli occupation and oppressions.

Since the design theme for this semester will focus on educational institutions, the course provides exercises in designing a complex of buildings with a medium/long span structure and with a complexity involving the site planning of several medium scale public access structures that has a building height of four to eight stories (Low-rise) involving the occupancy of not more than 250 persons within an area of 3 acres. Students are required to integrate some knowledge of architectural theory/approach/investigation in designing the buildings with awareness of the services, structural systems, the required construction materials and components and address the related building by-laws.

Site for the school

The site for the proposed school is on a piece of land in the Gaza strip.

Some important activities for DrZin's WB

Apart from all standard activities and responsibilities stated by the year coordinator of the studio, this workbase have planned several activities aimed to achieve the objectives of this workbase such as:-

1. Getting involved in the search for Palestinian info through research and data gathering.

2. Organise awareness campaign and fund raising for the benefit of WB groups and Palestinian people.

3. Traveling within and outside the country to achieve the best of WB objective.

To achieve that, this workbase members must have some important criterias:-

1. Have sense of humanity and care to the people who are being oppressed.

2. Ready to learn and feel the difficulties faced by the palestinians.

3. Ready to organise and actively involved in the activities to help them.

4. Willing to scarifice in terms of time, comfort and energy.

5. Ready to be with the WB activities towards achieving WB goal.

No	WB PM DR MOHD ZIN KANDAR
1	MOHD SAFWAN SAIFUDIN ZULKEFLI
2	NORLIZA JOHAN
3	AMIR AMNI ABD HALIM
4	CHIA GIN JIAH
5	CHU SHU ERN
6	LEE JUN XUAN
7	SITI NURLIYANA HJ SHARIF
8	SHAFIKAH SAIFUDIN
9	MUHD SYAFIQ RAZAK
10	MOHAMED MOHAMED QAID
11	NURFADHILAH ALINI ABD HALIM