Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

This is a final thesis for the Master’s Programme in Landscape Architecture at the Faculty of Landscape Planning, Horticulture and Agricultural Science. The subject of the thesis is the outdoor environment of children in Hebron.

The thesis aim is to investigate children’s basic needs and desires in their outdoor environment, and how these can be met in the design of a site in Hebron. A starting point for thesis is that children’s environments in the city should not be separated from city life in general, so that children and adults can meet in the city outdoor environment.

The ongoing political conflict between Israel and Palestine is presented in the thesis by describing its consequences for the city of Hebron and the lives of its residents, with a particular focus on the everyday lives of Hebron children. This presentation is to a large extent based on three weeks of field studies in the spring 2009. In the field studies three principals of Hebron schools were interviewed. Furthermore, in order to get deeper insights in the everyday lives of Palestinian children, pupils at two schools were asked to describe with drawings their experiences of the conflict and their desires for the outdoor environment.

Previous studies of children’s needs and desires for the outdoor environment are also presented in the thesis. Based on theoretical concepts from these previous studies, the field study observations are analysed in order to answer the research questions. The answers are given in the form of eight design tools applicable for achieving a children perspective in outdoor environments in practice. Furthermore, a possible design of the Al Ibrahimyye square in Hebron is presented.