Soil, Sand and City

Abstract: Israel was officially declared as an independent state in 1948. A time when the modernistic ideology peaked around the globe, although it had been the dominant urban planning paradigm since the early 1920s. The large number of migrants moving to the newly formed nation stressed the need of rapid urban development. The large influx of people also attracted many planners and architects from the west which influenced the city designs. The urban development was, and continues to be, largely characterized by industrialization, large-scale infrastructure projects and high-rise neighborhoods. However, the increasing impact of climate change and sustainable development goals means that this way of dealing with the problems of today is no longer sufficient. This development has also resulted in a disconnection between people, city and landscape. The ambition of this project is to provide another solution to future urban development by continuing the kibbutz movement, which has been a part of the country’s history for more than a century. By analyzing the kibbutz structure and development as well as the local circumstances of the city Ashdod, I propose a new district which brings qualities and values from both traditional and contemporary kibbutz iterations. Most importantly I aim to integrate these into the existing urban fabric, thus forming a new type of kibbutz with the ultimate goal of mending the widening gap between people, city and landscape currently taking place. The site today is mainly unused, but contains many different landscape qualities and is located next to the city’s train station, commercial center and a new high-tech park development. This is an excellent opportunity to further develop the city in this A-grade location, making way for an expanding population while embracing the unique landscape that Ashdod resides upon.