Sustainable urban design principles in low cost housing

Abstract EN

Housing demands have been increasing since the eruption of Al Aqsa uprising in September 2000.

Israel forces have since then been destroying thousands of houses resulting the displacement of tens of thousands Palestinians especially during the barbaric war in 2009.

Since then, the cooperation between all society organizations has gained greater importance with the difficult circumstances after the war and the need to apply principles of sustainable urban planning for the wise use of resources and the caring for healthier built environment.

Several housing projects have been established in Gaza in the previous years by several Arabic and foreign donors which exerted great pressure on resources and the environment and require considering principles of sustainability in these projects to draw lessons and feedbacks.

This research provides examines main sustainability principles in Madinat Shaykh Zayed project in Bait Lahya, Gaza which was the first low cost housing project in Gaza after the year 2000 to provide homes for the displaced by the Israeli encroachments.

It has been revealed that despite the great efforts paid in this project to apply principles of sustainability, there is still a need for more requirements to be fulfilled to provide a model for future housing projects in Gaza.