Habiba Soliman

Habiba Soliman

My project is to help children affected by war and could be implemented anywhere in the world.

I was seeing coverage of what’s happening in Gaza every day and wanted to help the people of Palestine in any way I could. So, I proposed designing and constructing an immediate displaced kids’ shelter to provide a safe, comfortable and sustainable environment for displaced children and orphans in Gaza.

The project would reuse shipping containers from Stadium 974 – the venue made from shipping containers as part of the Qatar 2022 World Cup – and would include residential and learning areas, a food hall and medical centre.

To transform the shipping containers into liveable spaces, I had to think about key aspects like insulation, ventilation, flooring, utilities, rust prevention, sealing, interior finishes and security features. I also wanted to create shared spaces that weren’t just practical, but could also help the children feel dignity, belonging and joy.