The Guardian’s of the Memory

Aim of the Project.

In response to “Trump’s Deal of the Century” (which states Palestinian refugee do not possess a right to return Refugees are only the first generation) + David Ben Gurion, the founder of (Israel) who once said “Elder people die and the younger generation forgets” and the Zionists movement whose goal is to erase the Palestinians’ identity, memories and villages, my project will fight for the right of those refugees!

The main idea of the project is to preserve Palestinian identity, by collecting Palestinian memories from the refugee camps, then transfer, store, and document them in the Memory Tank Museum.

Project is divided into two parts:

1)Archive Nodes:

Memories will be collected From Elderly Palestinians Refugees by creating an archive node in all Palestinian refugee camps gathering the memories of refugees who witnessed Palestine’s glory days, where narratives are told by Elderly refugees, then collected by people in charge of documenting and remotely transferring those memories from the archive node to the Memory Tank Museum.

The functions of all Archive nodes were inspired by where and how Palestinians used to gather, which were the kitchen and a café that hosted a storyteller(حكواتي), therefore. Archive nodes included a community kitchen and café that celebrates Palestinian stories and food, as well as an outdoor space where elderly can sit and tell their stories between orange tree fields ((بيارة برتقال, adding another glimpse of Palestine to the atmosphere.

A criteria was developed for the placement of Archive nodes, which serve the elderly in particular; it should be located every 500m within the camp borders, which is a 5-7minute walk.

A light beam and 20m wall writings inform visitors about the location of this memory.

2)The Memory Tank Museum:

Positioned next to the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan and the second largest in the Middle East, “Baqa’a Camp.”

The museum’s concept was inspired by the journey of Palestinians, who were expelled to neighbouring countries, settling in camps, and becoming “refugees,” but despite this segregation, they remained UNITED in preserving their traditions, affiliation, and right of return.

From fragmentation to unity. Based on the grid of refugee camp development, three stages were formed, beginning with 3×4 asbestos units, 6×8 empty spaces, and 12×16, from living in units to a whole unity.

memory is transformed from intangible to tangible.

Three stages are:

• Garden of Exile (Memory Input)-3×4-

Memories coming from Archive Node, are dispersed across three courtyards, each of which deals with a different aspect of Palestinian Anthropology:culture, social, and linguistic. Vaults in the Garden of Exile are protecting the memories underneath.

• March of Resilience (Memory Processing)-6×8-

Through workshops, the Garden of Exile’s memories starts transforming into tangible memories (Embroidery, Kitchen, and printing)

• Memory of Existence (Memory Output)-12×16-

Memories are tangible in this stage, through Palestinian markets and restaurants, that allows visitors to preserve their memory.

• The museum is flanked by a concrete wall“The skin”that protects the entire memory transformation process.
• The orientation and grid Structure of Baqa’a Camp, formed strong axis towards the museum, which influenced the project at each stage–the entrance, the skylight, and the theatre. Throughout the journey visitors will observe glimpses of the camp (their Reality). The journey ends with a live observation that proves Palestinians’ existence through a theatre that frames a panoramic view of Baqa’a Camp.