Zahrat Al Yasmeen Play Yard

Photos and videos by Shiraz Omar, Mejd Azzeh, and Mohammad Alazza
Structural Engineer & Site Supervisor: Rowaid Alazzeh
Owners Project Manager: Mejd Azzeh
Project Manager: Mohammad Alazza
Garden Design: Majd Salsa
Sustainability: AIRLIT studio
Client: The Lajee Center
Location: Bethlehem, Palestine
Awards: Honorable Mention in the AN Best of Design Awards, Social Impact Category

The Zahrat Al Yasmeen Play Yard is the result of a collaboration between Neighbor Architects and 1for3 with the Lajee Center in Bethlehem, Palestine. The Play Yard serves as the link and entry point between the Lajee Community Center, which houses Zahrat Al Yasmeen Kindergarten on the ground floor and a new classroom building to the south that expands the kindergarten’s offerings. Working at a fast pace and under extraordinary circumstances, we collaborated with team members in Bethlehem on a design that could be made with locally available materials and labor.