Gaza potter creates clay dome homes from rubble for displaced families

Faced with severe housing shortages following displacement, Palestinian potter Jaafar Atallah has revived traditional building techniques to construct dome-shaped dwellings from locally-sourced clay and recycled rubble. The innovative approach offers a practical alternative to tent camps that have housed families for extended periods across the region.

Atallah's method employs locally-available materials—earth, clay bricks, and salvaged debris—to erect structures significantly more durable than conventional canvas shelters. The dome design provides improved protection from weather while utilising resources abundantly present in affected areas. The technique draws on generations of regional building expertise adapted to present-day material constraints.

Neighbouring families have begun adopting similar approaches, signalling broader community recognition of the method's viability. The initiative reflects efforts to address Gaza's critical housing shortage through sustainable, locally-resourced solutions that combine traditional craftsmanship with contemporary necessity.

As displacement continues across Gaza, such alternative construction methods are gaining traction among residents seeking more permanent shelter solutions. The approach demonstrates how traditional skills and available materials can address urgent humanitarian needs when conventional housing infrastructure remains inaccessible.