Al-Mazar Theatre: Palestinian collective Memories Theatre

Alquds university

Project idea

This project is rooted in the resistance of erasure—architecturally, culturally, and emotionally. It reclaims Al-Mazār not merely as a geographic location, but as a symbol of collective Palestinian identity and memory. By anchoring its narrative in theatre—a practice deeply ingrained in Palestinian oral tradition—the project offers a non-static, living medium to document, interpret, and transmit history.

In the absence of tangible heritage due to systematic destruction, the project focuses on intangible cultural expressions: dialects, songs, traditional dress, and oral storytelling. These elements serve as tools of edutainment—educating while entertaining—and build a shared space for memory preservation and cultural sustainability.

The intervention unfolds in two phases:

Before liberation: A mobile theatrical infrastructure within Jenin Refugee Camp nurtures generational continuity, transforming pain into performance.

After liberation, Al-Mazār is reimagined as a spiritual and cultural gathering point, where generations reunite to share tales of heroism, resilience, and heritage.

The theatre serves a diverse audience:

Displaced villagers of Al-Mazār, returning to host weddings, events, and community rituals.

Palestinian children, engaging with their ancestral roots through play and performance.

Wider Palestinian society, using the space for collective reflection and celebration.

Tourists and visitors, gaining an immersive experience of authentic Palestinian narratives.

Ultimately, the project asserts that memory is a space, and theatre is the architecture through which that space is activated, lived, and shared.

Project description

Revival of Al-Mazar: A Depopulated Village Brought to Life by Palestinian Collective Memory Theatre

The project aims to revive the village of Al-Mazār, a historically significant site perched on a hilltop in the Jenin District, overlooking surrounding depopulated villages. Once a sacred shrine to a martyr of the Battle of Ain Jalut, Al-Mazār was demolished during the 1948 occupation, stripping it of its spirit and leaving behind only traces of memory.

Through the Theatre of Palestinian Collective Memories, the project envisions reclaiming the village’s symbolic meaning by creating a space where Palestinians can share stories, perform, and reconnect with their heritage. The open-air theatre is designed to follow the natural contours of the hill, creating terraces that frame the land and invite communal gathering and performance.

The architectural proposal includes three main components:

The central theatre atop the hill, rooted in the old village fabric and surrounded by native vegetation.

Public and administrative spaces, such as a village council, serve daily community needs.

Residential clusters, carefully integrated into the landscape through green fingers that preserve the mountain’s ecology and memory.

Visitors experience layered storytelling spaces:

The Western Zone (Old Town) features the “Palestinian Mahka” open-air terraces, where tales are passed down spontaneously in an immersive urban fabric.

The Hilltop Zone houses the main theatre, encircled by olive groves, while the entire village itself becomes a living stage.

An Overlook Tower, constructed from traditional limestone, offers panoramic views of surrounding liberated villages and displays narratives on digital screens, reinforcing the spatial and symbolic context.

The main hilltop theatre building includes:

Ground Floor: Gathering area, memory tree, and traditional attire exhibits.

First Floor: Theatrical training rooms and prop workshops.

Second Floor: A puppet and props gallery with a digital archive.

Basement: A fully equipped indoor theatre.

Open-Air Amphitheatre: Formed naturally by the slope and integrated with habitable sculptures for interactive performances.

The project also incorporates a pre-liberation intervention within Jenin Refugee Camp, where many Al-Mazār residents were displaced. Movable steel theatre units are placed within the camp, providing children with tools to enact their stories, learn about their heritage, and resist through art and performance. These temporary structures serve both as emotional outlets and educational spaces, reaffirming the right of return.

Technical information

Project Title:
Revival of Al-Mazar: A Depopulated Village Brought to Life by Palestinian Collective Memory Theatre

Type:
Cultural / Memorial / Public Space
Open-Air Theater, Urban Intervention, Community-based Architecture

Project Location:
Al-Mazar Village, Jenin District, Palestine
(With a temporary phase in Jenin Refugee Camp)

Project Area:

Theatre & Public Zone Area: ~ 3,200 m²

Old Town Storytelling Zone: ~ 2,000 m²

Tiny Theatres in Refugee Camp: Each unit ~ 6m x 6m (36 m²)

Total Site Integration: ~ 12,000 m²

Design Elements:

Natural Amphitheatre: Earth-contoured stage and seating

Indoor Theatre (Basement): For winter or intimate performances

Traditional Stone Tower: Limestone construction for panoramic storytelling

Workshop & Archive Spaces: Prop-making, costume design, oral archive

Interactive Exhibits: Puppet Gallery, Memory Tree, and Habitable Sculptures

Sustainable Green Fingers: Landscaping to blend new interventions into terrain

Building Construction:

The main theatre and tower structures are built using traditional Palestinian limestone masonry integrated with reinforced concrete slabs for durability and seismic resistance.

Movable theatrical units in the refugee camp are constructed using lightweight steel frames with modular wood paneling, allowing easy transportation and flexibility of use.

Interior partitions use adobe blocks and recycled wood, respecting local building traditions and ensuring thermal comfort.

The amphitheatre and exterior gathering spaces rely on rammed earth and natural stone paving, fully integrated into the site's natural topography.

Construction Materials:

Palestinian Limestone

Steel and Timber

Rammed Earth & Adobe

Recycled Wood & Stone

Local Flora (Olive, Cactus, Native Plants) for landscaping

Structural Systems:

Permanent Structures: Stone masonry + reinforced concrete

Movable Units: Steel frame + modular timber walls

Amphitheatre: Terraced rammed earth with embedded stone seating

Software Used:
AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, Lumion, Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator

Stage of Project:
Academic Design Project – Conceptual & Visual Development Completed

Sustainability Aspects:

Use of local, low-carbon materials

Passive cooling and natural lighting

Green integration of architecture with landscape

Intangible cultural heritage preservation

Project Year:
2023 – 2024