Gaza girls subvert Israeli blockade with building bricks made from rubble

Two engineering graduates from the Islamic University of <a href="https://inhabitat.com/tag/gaza/" target="_blank">Gaza</a> have defied all stereotypes with their design of an affordable new building block made from the rubble of war, and they're about to scale operations for mass production. Subverting a crippling Israeli blockade that makes importing <a href="https://inhabitat.com/tag/building-materials" target="_blank">construction materials</a> a demeaning, expensive, and time-consuming process, Majd Mashharawi and Rawan Abddllaht overcame a litany of obstacles to develop their green bricks. Their goal is to help Gaza residents rebuild their homes after three wars in 10 years have left thousands of buildings in ruins.

These lightweight building blocks from Gaza are made with coal ash and rubble.

Majd Mashharawi and her friend designed green building blocks made from local materials.

It took months for the girls to develop a building block that meets minimum standards.

A man prepares GreenCake blocks made with coal ash and rubble.

The building blocks are half the price of standard bricks.

Coal ash is a serious environmental hazard in Gaza that pollutes groundwater supplies.

GreenCake is raising funds to scale production of their green building blocks.

GreenCake building blocks made with coal ash and the rubble of war.