Hala Alnaji

Let's Have Fun..!

In conflict, the political controversies between the parties are considered intangible. Thus, there is an opportunity for architecture to create an influence. Looking at the dialogue of daily spatial resistance  shows that within the Israeli policies of occupation, destruction, and killing there were different forms of Palestinian spatial practices, that recast the political equation of conflict on the ground by displaying creative tools within architecture. One of the community practices towards architecture in Gaza was for a group of youth players called Parkour team. Parkour is a training discipline using movement that developed from military obstacle course training. Practitioners aim to get from A to B in the most efficient way possible. This is done using only the human body and the surroundings for propulsion, with a focus on maintaining as much momentum as possible while still remaining safe. Parkour can include obstacle courses, running, climbing, swinging, mantling, vaulting, jumping, rolling, quadrupedal movement, and other, similar movements depending on what movement is deemed most suitable for the given situation.

Recently an essay published in Domus website for the authors; Joseph Grima, and Antonio Ottmanelli; has talked briefly about Parkour in Gaza through an interview they had organized with the team members. Looking at the photos for the team members while they were practicing. And you will notice that the background of these photos shows deconstructed buildings, and deserted spaces. This type of activities can be considered as a form of what can be called " The Cosmetology Architecture ".