Zaha Hadid was an Iraqi and Middle Eastern woman architect, a starchitect legend who died too soon. She was the first female architect (and first Muslim) to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize. But the firm behind her name and iconic feminine language carries on. While we don’t love that Zaha Hadid‘s firm is behind the obnoxious ski resort in the Saudi Desert we do love that they have partnered for a nobler cause to bring more humane life-sustaining shelter to refugees who need homes. 

There are millions of refugees in the Middle East and as we see after an earthquake in even politically-stable countries like Turkey where thousands of died and hundreds of thousands are now homeless, quick and safe and human shelter can be needed overnight. We wrote about 10 different kinds of shelters we hate to love and want to add Zaha Hadid’s to the list. 

A joint venture between Zaha Hadid Architects and the Qatari foundation Education Above All Foundation (EAA), the newly donated tents will serve as schools, clinics and emergency shelters. The tents, modular and weather-proof, are designed for use in schools, clinics and emergency shelters in refugee and displaced communities.

Education Above All is founded by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned is one of the three wives “called consort” of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of the State of Qatar. She is also the co-founder and chairperson of the Qatar Foundation. 

Three tents are already being used as schools for hundreds of displaced Pakistani and Syrian children in Pakistan and Turkey. The newly donated structures will be used as schools, clinics and temporary shelter for displaced communities in Syria, Turkey and Yemen. 

Fifteen tents will be given to IOM, of which 10 will serve as schools and five as health clinics in Turkey and Yemen. In Syria, Qatar Red Crescent will receive 12 structures that it will serve as shelters for displaced communities in Syria according to press material.

Weather proof and allowing for daylight to enter, the tents are modular structures that can be easily moved and re-assembled, incorporating components that can also be upcycled or recycled for sustainability, thereby making them ideal for displaced populations.

A central enclosed space in the 12 metre-long by eight metre-wide module will primarily serve as a classroom for up to 45 students. Sail-like forms surround the space and give shade. 

Unfortunately refugees in the Middle East oftentimes find themselves in permanent states of homelessness, giving them time to plant gardens. Their homes are usually no more than ragged tents and boxes.

With more than 70 million people displaced in their own countries or living as refugees, and half under the age of 18, the EAA saw a critical need for suitable infrastructure that could serve as classrooms, temporary housing, and medical centres for displaced children and their families.

The Qatar Foundation is supported by an endowment funded by the country’s enormous hydrocarbons revenues. The size and details of the endowment are unknown. The foundation is governed by a seven-member board of trustees and a board of directors.

The joint project will place 27 tents in Syria, Turkey and Yemen and will house schools for children to learn. 

“Together, we developed a robust, cost-effective, and lightweight modular architectural system with fabric envelope to build structures that can be adapted in many variations to meet the conditions and lives of displaced children and children on the move,” said Zaha Hadid’s project architect Gerry Cruz.

“We hope that these newly donated tents will bring safety, learning and play to thousands in Yemen, Syria and Turkey.”

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