Project
Bat Yam, Israel 2012
As the lighthouse is used already as a meeting place for the kids and for the elderly of the quarter and as there are workshops already held in a variety of subjects, what we would like to introduce there is a whole lot of experience and connections to groups within the quarter which could perfectly serve as a soil for intensifying communal richness and collaboration. One tool we are working with for achieving a stronger connection is a rather classical tool for architects – the building of beauty. In relation of what we have learned what the activities in place are about we introduce some quite simple yet effective means of spatial and functional improvements that make this location attractive. Wherein the private gardens, fences and divisions are put up voluntarily, the regulations drive the public building to create cage like atmosphere by the set of fences put in between each unit of a school/kindergarten/community center. In our proposal in creating an urban living space we use part of the built borders in order to create a more enclosed space in front of the house by setting up a permeable ceiling which also acts as a sun protector drawing beautiful shadow patterns on the ground. Several parts of the yard and particularly the sports ground in the back of the building are transformed and improved by simple spatial devices such as platforms, stairs, alcoves and espaliers. Within this scheme we propose to have parts of the structural members prefabricated and constructed by a company whereas all the rest should be done within a public building workshop particularly including nowadays users as well as interested new participants of the quarter thus making it their “own” space, building up a strong connection and stake holdership which produces as well responsibility toward the site, joy and belief.
