Competition Guidelines

1. Objectives
& Context

Objectives & Context

The Green Spaces Palestine Design Competition seeks innovative preliminary proposals for urban green areas in Tubas, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Hebron.
It aims to promote climate-resilient, inclusive, and safe public spaces while raising awareness through a parallel lecture series.

Organized by:

MDLF – Municipal Development and Lending Fund
ENABEL – Belgian Development Agency
PALBE-SUP (Birzeit University)

2.Competition
Sites

The Green Spaces Palestine competition focuses on four urban contexts, each presenting unique challenges and opportunities for sustainable public space design. Registered teams may choose to work on one or more sites.

Tubas

Context: A growing city in the northeastern West Bank facing rapid expansion, limited green spaces, and climate stress.
Design Criteria:
- Provide a resilient public green area.
- Strengthen ecological balance.
- Create inclusive spaces for social life.

Nablus

Context: A dense urban fabric with a historic core and high population pressure.

Design Criteria:

Integrate greenery within congested neighborhoods.
Reimagine green infrastructure in a dense, vibrant city.
Enhance accessibility and inclusivity.

Bethlehem

Context: Renowned for its cultural and religious heritage, Bethlehem faces urban pressure and scarcity of open spaces.

Design Criteria:

Balance heritage conservation with modern needs.
Provide inclusive, multifunctional public green areas.
Address tourism–community tensions through design.

Hebron

Context: A city with complex layered histories and pressing social/environmental challenges.

Design Criteria:

Foster safe, inclusive, and sustainable green spaces.
Address divisions in the urban fabric.
Use ecological design to strengthen resilience.

✅ Each site package (AutoCAD maps, aerials, photos, references) will be available after registration through the competition portal.

3. Eligibility

Each team must consist of a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 members, including the team leader.
Individual participation is not permitted.
All team members must be Palestinian citizens holding a Palestinian ID or Jerusalem (blue) ID.
Participants from areas without a Palestinian or Jerusalem ID are not eligible.
Participants with a Jerusalem (blue) ID are eligible, provided they are not affiliated with Israeli institutions.
The Team Leader must be one of the following:
- A licensed architect or planner registered with the Engineers Syndicate, or
- An academic instructor (with valid proof of employment).
- Single participants and entire offices are not eligible to apply.
- Individuals affiliated with Israeli universities, whether as students or teaching staff, are not eligible to participate.

4. Enrolment
Process

Teams register via the official website.
Required documents:
- Proof of Palestinian citizenship (ID/passport).
- Team Leader proof of eligibility (Engineers Syndicate or academic position).
Each team receives a Competition ID and access to the Info Package (maps, photos, templates).
Teams can register for more than one site.

4.Submission
Requirements

Items to Submit

Submissions include the following documents:

2 vertical A1 project panels containing the visual elements of the project;
1 illustrated text presenting the ideas of the project (4 pages max. – A4 vertical);
Documents proving the eligibility of the team members;
Documents for communication (3 images + a text of 800 signs, spaces included);

A1 Panels: Content

The 2 panels must:

explain the design ideas developed in the project;
show the relationship between the site and the surrounding context;
show exhaustively enough how the design features respond to the overarching goals of the competition;
include drawings explaining the use and role of plants and vegetation in the design;
include a site plan;
include a general circulation map/diagram;
include at least one three-dimensional representation/photographic representation of the project;
Develop the method foreseen for the implementation process.

All graphic and descriptive documents must have a graphic scale.

Technical specifications for panels:

PDF format;
Vertical A1 (L 594 mm x H 841 mm) ;
Maximum 20 Mb for each panel;
The team’s code must be indicated in the box (L 60 mm x H 40 mm) in the upper left corner of each panel; the name of the site must be placed next to it;
Panels numbered in the upper right corner;
The team is free to decide on the positioning of the proposal title.

Text: Content

The text must present:

the project’s ideas and concept,
how the design connects to the local context,
the sustainability of the project :

1) materials and techniques used for the design;

2) maintenance and adaptability during the project lifetime;

3) use of renewable/natural resources (water collection and recycling, sustainable energy, CO2 emission, recyclability);

implementation phases/timeline.

Technical specifications:

3 to 4 (max) pages with limited visuals;
PDF format;
Vertical A4 (L 210mm x H 297mm)
The team’s code must be indicated in the box (L 60 mm x H 40 mm) in the upper left corner of each panel; the name of the site must be placed next to it;

5.Awarding
Process

Criteria

Alignment with the overarching goals (climate resilience, biodiversity, safe & inclusive design).
Innovation and creativity in responding to local context.
Feasibility of implementation (materials, techniques, water & energy efficiency).
Contribution to social inclusion and active citizenship.
Visual and technical clarity of the proposal (panels and text).

Process

Submissions are reviewed anonymously, identified only by the Competition ID.
The operational team checks eligibility and completeness.
Eligible entries are evaluated by the local jury using a standard scoring form.
Jury scores are consolidated and discussed with the advisory board.
Winners are announced on the website, notified via email, and awarded in a final ceremony.

Jury Composition

A local jury for each city (Tubas, Nablus, Bethlehem, Hebron), composed of:
- Representatives from municipalities and MDLF.
- Academic experts (planning, architecture, sustainability).
- Professional representatives (Engineers Syndicate, practitioners).
The advisory board oversees consistency and fairness across all sites.

Awards

The winning team for each site will be awarded with career opportunities and special gifts. Additionally, each winning team will be granted will be awarded a training trip to Europe and an internship period at the MDLF to follow up on the implementation process of their design project.

6 Competition
Timeline

Launch of the Competition – October 2025
Training & Capacity Building (FREE) + Site Visits / Seminars – October to December 2025
Submission Deadline – 01/01/2026
Jury Review & Awards – January 2026

7. Timeline

23/10- LAUNCH
23/10-10/11 : ACCREDITATION OF TEAMS/ SIGNING UP
10/11-13/11: SITE VISIT PERIOD
17/11-21/11 : ONLINE SEMINAR ON CLIMATE-RESPONSIVE DESIGN, AND ADVANCED TECHNIQUES FOR SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC SPACE DESIGN
01/01/2026 .23.59 (EET) : SUBMISSION DEADLINE OF PROJECTS

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate in the competition?

The competition is open to students of architecture and urban planning holding Palestinian nationality, as well as licensed professionals and academic instructors in related fields. Teams must include at least three members, of which one must be a designated team leader (Licensed professional or Academic )

How can teams register?

Registration is completed through the official competition website only. Create your account, select the project site(s), upload required documents, and complete the enrolment form.

What documents are required at enrolment?

Each team member must upload a valid Palestinian ID or passport. The team leader must upload proof of professional registration (Engineers Syndicate) or proof of academic employment.

Is there an enrolment fee?

No, the enrolment is free of charge. No money will be asked to participants at any stage of the competition and after the award.

Can one team apply for more than one site?

Yes. Teams may enrol for multiple sites, provided they complete separate registration forms for each site.

When will teams receive their site information?

Upon successful registration, each team receives access to an information package for the selected site, including maps, photos, and basic contextual data.

How will teams receive confirmation of enrolment?

Once the registration is validated, teams receive a confirmation email with their unique identification code, which must be used on all submission materials and communications.

For team leaders: Which documents can I upload to proof my affiliation as an academic?

Team leaders affiliated to universities can prove their affiliation by uploading a digital copy of a valid contract, or a declaration signed by the Department Chair/ Faculty Dean stating that the person is part of the teaching staff for this academic year (2025/26).

What are the elaborates required for the submission?

2 vertical A1 project panels containing the visual elements of the project;
1 illustrated text presenting the ideas of the project (4 pages max. – A4 vertical);
Documents proving the eligibility of the team members;
Documents for communication (3 images + a text of 800 signs, spaces included)

Is there a specific requirements in terms of layout?

Panels must be vertical A1 (L 594 mm x H 841 mm).
They must be uploaded as PDF, maximum 20 Mb for each panel.
The team’s code must be indicated in the box (L 60 mm x H 40 mm) in the upper left corner of each panel; the name of the site must be placed next to it.
Panels must be numbered from in the upper right corner;

Where shall I submit the project?

Submissions must be sent exclusively through the competition’s portal, using the button in the dashboard.

Which language should be used for panels?

The panels and the texts shall be written in Arabic and, optionally, in English (bilingual).

What is the prize for awarded projects?

Winning teams will be awarded a training trip to Europe and an internship period at the MDLF to follow up on the implementation process of their design project.

I lost my team's code. What shall I do?

Send us email at competition@4greenspaces.com specifying your name and login Email.

I did not receive the confirmation email. What shall I do?

Check first your spams and make sure you used a correct email in your form.
Send us email at competition@4greenspaces.com specifying your name and login Email.

I cannot access my dashboard. What shall I do?