National Music Conservatory Edward Said

Bethlehem, Palestine

The music conservatory includes administrative, educational and public facilities and serves about 190 students aged five years and above. The structure is arranged in two volumes organized around a rectangular central patio, a contemporary interpretation of a hosh or the exterior shared space that is an essential typology found in Palestinian houses. Here, the hosh is at the heart of the project, a public space flowing into the dense urban fabric. All volumes are built with local sur mai’n lime stone, in accordance with an old Ottoman building regulation, which has the effect of integrating the conservatory deeply within its surroundings. The public nature of the space is further emphasized through the use of large glazed façades.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture