AlMath'af, Recreational Cultural House

On a small hill overlooking the sea in Gaza stands “Al-Mathaf” (arabic for “The Museum”, pronounced Al-Mat-Haf), a one-of-a-kind recreation and cultural center that showcases Gaza’s rich historical past and seamlessly blends it into the context of life in modern Gaza. As it’s name suggests, Al-Mathaf is home to Gaza’s finest archaeological museum, which is filled with beautiful artifacts that celebrate Gaza’s rich cultural heritage. Along-side these historical treasures of ancient civilizations, today’s Gazans gathers at Al-Mathaf’s beautiful Restaurant-Café, a center of modern culture and recreation in Gaza. In a time when many in Gaza have forgotten our heritage, Al-Mathaf aims to preserve the regions rich history, provide a venue for modern cultural dialogue, and carry a message for this generation to build a brighter future.

Al-Mathaf stands above the beach in the northern Gaza Strip, a rebirth of sorts in an area of Gaza that has long suffered from official neglect and a general lack of interest. Al-Mathaf was built as a private investment to help preserve the historical and cultural identity of Gaza but its riches are not limited to the contents of its museum. Al-Mathaf celebrates the rich architectural history of the region in its professionally designed buildings and gardens, which have been traditionally reproduced with local and regional experts to create a harmonious modern atmosphere in the context of traditional colors, themes, and design.

Al-Mathaf’s current facility is located on 1,200 square meters of a 4,500 square meter plot of land and represents the first phase of development. Al-Mathaf has been open to the public since August of 2008 and its current facilities include the museum showroom, restaurant-café, terrace, green outdoor gardens, and children’s courts.