Learn on the go
Wadi Nisnas, Haifa, Israel
January 2021
Academic Project - 3rd year
Heritage Preservation and Renewal Studio
Technion, Israel
Guidance
Arch. Ruth Liberty-Shalev
The project deals with the design of an elementary school for the arts in the Wadi Nisnas neighborhood. The area is divided by two buildings, one from the beginning of the 19th century. Second building from the 1970s, The buildings are located very close to each other on the plot but their buildings have no interface.
The project allows the use of school spaces after Hours of operation for residents of the Wadi Nisnas neighborhood. For this purpose, direct access was planned To these spaces from the street so that the community can enjoy the public functions.
Using ramps that pass between and within the buildings The project wants to create a connection between the various buildings and the people who pass through them
The ramps apart from traffic create places to stay and characterize spaces.
The school spaces were designed as spaces without walls, open spaces defined for sub-spaces by levels and the existing construction.
The ramps that dominate the entire southern façade of the historic stone structure, envelop in a way that hides and reveals parts of the structure, embracing it and also allowing it to be experienced from new perspectives.
Contingency City
Shapira neighborhood, Tel Aviv, Israel
September 2024
Academic Project - 6rd year
Final project
Technion, Israel
Guidance
Prof. Gabriel Schwartz
Dr. Dikla Yizhar
Dr. Oryan Shachar
The October 2023 events led to the evacuation of thousands of Israelis from their homes, with no defined return time. The common term in Israeli discourse is "displaced," while the international term for someone who has left their home during a war and remained in their country is "internally displaced person" (IDP). According to the latest Central Bureau of Statistics data, 135,000 people in Israel fit this definition. The state provides immediate assistance to the displaced, but the ongoing crisis requires more comprehensive aid. Civil society has stepped into this gap, working on many levels to fill the voids in government assistance.
Globally, there are 75.9 million IDPs as of the end of 2023. This staggering number underscores the critical need for innovative solutions to address displacement and build resilience. The research project asks: How can we prepare for emergencies through flexible and adaptive urban planning?
The project proposes a framework for coping with displacement by transforming urban environments into “hosting” environments, providing a multi-dimensional support system in times of emergency. The hosting city in this situation is not just a passive background, but an active, adapting, and inclusive participant in fostering resilience and solidarity. The Shapira neighborhood in Tel Aviv serves as a test case for this approach thanks to its combination of urban renewal projects, diverse demographics, and relatively low density. These data constitute fertile ground for implementing and evaluating innovative mechanisms.
The project aims to turn urban spaces into adaptable and supportive environments by weaving together principles of architectural flexibility, community empowerment, and economic incentives. The goal is to develop an urban model that addresses the immediate challenges of emergencies and improves the overall quality of life for the city’s residents. An opportunity to turn cities into more sustainable, equitable, and resilient entities in the face of future challenges.
