ארץ החומות - בידיים שלנו

the phenomenon of informal planning and construction in Arab localities, particularly in unrecognized villages. These villages are not officially acknowledged by the state, which places them outside the legal and administrative system and deprives their residents of basic services such as water, electricity, education, and healthcare. They do not appear on official maps and lack proper infrastructure, planned roads, or polling stations, even though their residents hold Israeli citizenship. This reality embodies the concept of the “Present Absentee.” The state considers the buildings in these villages illegal constructions; however, this situation is not the result of individual decisions, but rather a direct consequence of exclusionary state policies that have restricted Arab urban development since 1948. As a result, many residents were forced to build their homes without permits, leaving them in a constant state of insecurity under an ongoing policy of demolitions. Dahmash Village serves as a prominent example — located on agricultural land in the center of the country, its residents have been struggling for decades for recognition and the right to housing. In response to the demolition policies, they built fences around themselves for protection, seeking safety and continuity for their community. The project explores the history and daily reality of Dahmash to propose an alternative architectural plan — one that not only seeks recognition of place but also aims to build a just social and spatial structure. The central idea focuses on the creation of a school building connected to the mosque, forming together a communal core that becomes the foundation stone for recognition and empowerment. The school thus stands as a symbol of resistance to demolition policies and as an educational and cultural landmark for the entire region.