This thesis focusses on the city of Lod, located between the Jerusalem mountains and the Metropolitan Area of Tel Aviv. Lod, together with the cities of Haifa, Jaffa, Akko, Ramle, Nazareth-Illit and Ma’alot-Tarshiha, counts for an important part of the country’s Arab citizens. These contested cities
are commonly referred to as ‘mixed’ cities in Israel. It should be noted that the term ‘mixed’ is highly problematic in this particular context as it implies coexistence whereas this is an expression merely based on population statistics. Today, as Arab population pressure rises, the social structure of Arab communities is changing and Israeli National Planning strongly limits possible urban expansion.
Therefore alternative strategies and urban visions for the future development of this city are explored in individual research by design projects, in search of a new Levantine Urbanism.
