Quinlan Revell

Escaping compression through the
reimagination of the coastal bourgeoise

“In the waves I am in a different place, a different world”
said  Mohammad Abu Jayab, a 42 year old Palestinian Man. He moves from a place... to another, his passport unstamped.

The compression of the Gaza Strip subverts the Mediterranean identity of the “coastal bourgeoisie”, the relationship of leisure to the coast line takes new forms as Gazan’s seek solace from ongoing conflict.

Establishing the Israeli Defence Force’s (IDF) blockade of Gaza as a provocateur of imagination and escapism for the Palestinian’s that live there, this thesis aims to investigate Gaza as a spectrum of real and imagined experiences facilitated by actions of departure and return. The reimagining of the coastal bourgeoisie becomes a lens to understand the effects of compression and hypothesis new coastal development and lifestyle un-affected by the blockade.

PROJECT NARRATIVE:

To present the experience of a hotel that at the moment can only exist as a figment of imagination, I have created a narrative to highlight the significance of the chosen site and the hotel typology as an activator of reflection, shared experiences and social learnings through conversation. The narrative starts with the destruction of the Hanadi Tower in Gaza City on the 12th of May., 2021 The rubble is used to create visual markers of reality on the chosen site. These markers aim to symbolize Palestinian resilience whilst also proposing the reactivation of the site into a hotel. Concrete blocks are formed into walls linking the two existing structures through a series of courtyards and hotel rooms. Meanwhile in 2021 six kids, 1 from Israel and 5 from Gaza are directly involved in the outcomes of the ongoing violence between Palestine and Israel. Ibraheem, Abdul, Nadeen, Nariman, Edan and Sabah become the main characters of the story as they travel to the hotel (now complete) in 2041.

The 5 kids from Gaza  now in their early thirties travel to the hotel to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the blockade removal. The event is held in the hotel’s event hall which is located adjacent to the lobby space, in the old Arrivals Hall. Edan, from Israel, a lifelong traveler has come to Gaza to see the sites. Now open to the world Gaza has reconnected to the origins of its occupation, the coastal bourgeoise. The hotel exists as a symbol of luxury, strong economic growth and the will of travelers to experience Gaza now that the blockade has been removed.

Abdul meets Ibraheem at the conference, they in turn meet Sabah in the Lobby as Edan checks in to his room and Nariman sets off to find hers. It turns out Nariman’s room is next to Sabah’s and they meet when Nariman offers her a cigarette on their hotel rooms shared balcony. They get talking gazing down at the pool noticing Abdul who has just met Nadeen as she enjoys her swim. Ibraheem sits by the pool lost in thought. The memory of his father building the original airport has made his mind drift off as he turns within for a moent of reflection. Offers to join Abdul for  dinner are shared from Sabah to Nariman and Abdul to Nadeen as strangers grow familiar with one another.

Later on that day Ibraheem is getting ready for dinner by visiting the hotels Hammam, a bathhouse that is open to men between 2-5pm. He shares a pot of tea with Edan who he meets in the steam. They get talking, the intimacy of the bathhouse opens up conversation to a more reflective side as Edan struggles with the thought of wasted potential. As Edan is from Israel, Ibraheem thinks it’s a good idea to invite Edan to dinner with himself and the other members of our story.

Meeting in the Dining Hall for dinner at 8pm the 6 guests enjoy an evening of conversation, wine and good food, Abdul gives a toast. It is amazing how moments of chance meeting facilitated by the events and spaces that the hotel provides have led to 6 strangers sharing a meal as their day at the hotel ends.