UIA Open Competition: Protective Shelter at Ancient Jericho / Tell es-Sultan Archaeological Site
Sisäänjättö: 15.12.2026
Deadline: 15.12.2026
The competition, endorsed by the International Union of Architects (UIA), is organised by the UNESCO Office in Ramallah, in coordination with the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA), with the financial support of Italy through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023, Tell es-Sultan is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the world and a key testimony to the development of early human settlements. The competition addresses the urgent need to protect Trench I, which contains significant archaeological remains currently exposed to environmental and human risks.
The project calls for the design of a reversible, non-invasive and climate-responsive shelter that ensures the long-term conservation of the site while preserving its Outstanding Universal Value. The intervention will integrate a visitor walkway and elevated viewing platform, enhancing interpretation of the site while carefully managing access and protecting its fragile archaeological layers.
Architects from around the world are invited to submit proposals that balance conservation requirements, design quality and environmental sensitivity, while responding to the specific climatic and cultural context of Jericho.
The competition is an open call for proposals based on anonymous design submission. Eligible participants include architects or teams of architects and engineers authorised to practise in their country of residence. The team leader must be an Architect with at least eight (8) years of professional experience in architectural design. The team must include at least one experienced structural engineer with ten (10) years of professional practice, and preferably experience in the structural design of long-span structures. Full eligibility criteria are provided in the competition brief.
JURY
- Yara Saifi (Architect, State of Palestine)
- Abderrahim Kassou (Architect, Morocco)
- Gabriela Carrillo (Architect, Mexico)
- João Luís Carrilho da Graça (Architect, Portugal, UIA representative)
- Marina Tabassum (Architect, Bangladesh)
- Ueli Brauen (Architect, Civil Engineer, Switzerland, UIA representative, alternate juror)
- Filippo Lambertucci (Architect, Italy, alternate juror)