"Qalandiya: the Green Historic Maze, developed by RIWAQ - Centre for Architectural Conservation, has been awarded the Grand Prize at the Holcim Foundation Awards 2025, recognizing its sensitive and deeply contextual approach to heritage conservation in Palestine, selected among the 20 winners of this year's edition. Located in Qalandiya, north of Jerusalem, the project reactivates a historic village center long affected by political fragmentation, neglect, and spatial disconnection."
"The Holcim Foundation Awards jury recognized the project for its ability to operate within highly complex social and political conditions while maintaining a clear architectural and environmental vision. Particular emphasis was placed on the project's participatory process, which involved residents directly in research, design, and construction, as well as its contribution to knowledge generation and transmission. Rather than treating heritage as a static object, the project was acknowledged for framing conservation as an active and evolving process that supports everyday life, collective memory,"
RIWAQ’s Qalandiya Green Historic Maze received the Holcim Foundation Awards Grand Prize for a sensitive, contextual approach to heritage conservation in Palestine. The project reactivates a historic village center north of Jerusalem that suffered political fragmentation, neglect, and spatial disconnection. An incremental rehabilitation strategy restores deteriorated structures using traditional knowledge, local stone masonry, and native materials, converting abandoned fabric into active public spaces. Participatory research, design, and construction engaged residents directly and promoted knowledge generation and transmission. Conservation is framed as an active, evolving process that supports everyday life, collective memory, local stewardship, and environmental resilience through passive climate strategies and landscape-based infrastructure.
#heritage-conservation #participatory-design #traditional-masonry #environmental-resilience #palestine
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