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Site Planning The initial investigations determined the segmented nature of the city; the future development plan threatened to merely encourage the established pattern. The resulting framework was devised as strategy for establishing cohesion at the urban scale while promoting attentive and contextually appropriate urban solutions to each unique zone.
Northern Expansion The urban plan is currently defined by a completely disconnected urban fabric. The city identity is currently fragmented along socio-economic lines and the proposed plan will reinforce this disconnection while eroding the existing urban core. The new population growth in the northern neighborhoods offers an opportunity for economic development and an enhancement of amenity offerings for the city, if utilized and planned in a non-divisive approach. Urban Core Termed as the Hinge, it has tremendous unrealized potential. The municipal core is separated from the economic engine of the city in the industrial zone by a perfectly situated but underdeveloped piece of land, the “Wedge,” as well as an impermeable edge at the train tracks. Sderot Lachish winds down from the north into the Wedge but terminates at the train tracks. The Wedge is currently disinvested with light industrial and vacant space, but with visually interesting buildings and close proximity to a variety of important locations such as the train station, the courthouse, and the BIG, a major shopping center. Industrial Zone Kiryat Gat’s industrial park is one of the city’s most distinctive assets. In addition to hosting a bevy of traditional industries, including food processing (Sugat, Sabra) and metal production (Hod Assaf), it has recently attracted cutting-edge manufacturing facilities with the introduction of Intel, HP, Micron, Hitachi, Zenith Solar, and other high tech companies. However, it remains cut off from the city, in a very literal sense. A strict adherence to single-use zoning has created a district that is inhospitable to the pedestrian, compounded by enclosed campuses with amenities that are only open to their own employees. urban cell The urban cell is a methodological tool for analyzing, planning, and managing urban fabrics, existing or new through the premise that a city can be read as a network of cells, interconnected through social, physical and economic ties. Its main goal is to promote connectivity, ease of accessibility, diversity of demographics, and continuity of management and maintenance.
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Urban Cell The departure point behind the urban cell was the understanding that one of Kiryat Gat’s main challenges and opportunities lies in its existing urban fabric, which consists of an aging housing stock that fails to attract new residents. Without addressing and developing the existing fabric, Kiryat Gat is anticipated to become a dual city, on both sides of route 35. Much like many other cities in Israel
Rigid borders
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and throughout the world, it was planned as a cluster of neighborhoods, and the main streets act as dividers between them. As a result, many neighborhoods in Israel illustrate rigid borders, poor connectivity (especially to adjacent neighborhoods), autonomous structure and under-utilized spaces (such as empty lots, public plazas and communal spaces and yards).
Poor connectivity
NEXCITY: Refigured Urbanism for the 21st Century
Autonomous structure
Underutilized spaces
Rethinking the city as a network of urban cells
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The cell, a socio-spatial unit In order to address these challenges we suggest a methodology that seeks to challenge the neighborhood as the basic planning unit, and to re-think the city as a network composed of inter-connected cells. An urban cell is a sociospatial unit that is characterized by flexible borders, good connectivity, wide range of open spaces, diversity of social groups, as well as management and maintenance models. The urban cell is not meant to replace the neighborhood scale as a reference unit for the residents but to act as a tool for analysis and intervention designated for planners and
policy makers. Through the evaluation of current and future qualitative capacity of the cell structure, a series of multiscalar design and policy interventions can create a cohesive neighborhood fabric that lends itself better to the residents, internal operations, and the surrounding cellular context. The design and policy interventions are based on quantitative and qualitative principles, which touch parameters such as borders, connectivity, public spaces, urban language, human comfort, management, age groups etc.
Division of a neighborhood into inter-connected urban cells
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Planning methodology The initial process involves the community, planning and design experts, city officials, and key stakeholders in order to ensure the best possible outcome for all actors. As the cells are analyzed, the result is an extracted Use Definition, a shared vision and concept, which will serve as guiding principles for the continuation of the process.
analyzing & Mapping
The urban cell methodology introduces a nonlinear process for analysis and intervention, simultaneously examining the urban scale, cellular scale, and the adjacent environments. As a result, an urban cell is never analyzed and planned on its own as an autonomous entity, but always in relation to the greater composition, which influences its character and definitions. The urban cell’s size and character are not predetermined but may vary, as they are derived from an analysis of its place and role in the urban scale, and in relation to its surrounding environment.
Zoom in
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Defining
Zoom out
Connecticity
Planning tools
Program
Focal points
connectivity
Typologies
Management
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Based on the3planner defines – 2 4 1 this process, Congruent area focal points connectivity
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Axial focal points connectivity
Connectivity over main routh
Connectivity along main routh
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Connectivity thro and beside anoth cell
The cell’s interfaces with other cells Local,Inter-cell connection Public
Focal points connector Although the urban cell concept wishes to promote connectivity and porous borders, it arteries does not sustain that Main all cells can, nor should be connected to all other cells, but rather offers a set of flexibleFocal connectivity strategies. For example: overlapping areas between Point cells that carry different activities; an axis that connects through several cells; a central cell wall urban cell that acts asRigid a connector between other cells. Industry
Connectivity along main routh
Local,Inter-cell connection Focal points connector Main arteries Focal Point Rigid cell wall Permeable cell wall
Overlapping strategy: focal point in overlapping areas
Public
Industry
Open Space
Commerce
Living
Connectivity between urban cells with a rigid boundary between them
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Industry
Open Space
Commerce
Axial strategy: connectivity through an axis that holds different programs
Living
NEXCITY: Refigured Urbanism for the 21st Century
Asymmetrical connectivity towards an urban cell that acts as a connector
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Connectivity through and beside another cell
Local,Inter-cell connection
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Focal points connector
Connectivity over main routh
Main arteries
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Axial focal points connectivity
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Rigid cell wall
Congruent area focal points connectivity
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Permeable cell wall
A permeable central cell that enables diffrent types and scales of connectivity
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hrough nother
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The relationship between uses within the cell
While the urban cell concept wishes to promote a wide range of opportunities and activities within the cell, it does not suggest that all cells should be mixed use. The socio-spatial relationships within the cell are defined by a complex program, which does not only specify the different uses (as it is done traditionally) but also defines the spatial relations between them.
Clusters of employment and local businesses in a residential fabric
Employment opportunities and public spaces scattered in a residential fabric.
Employment and commerce, combined with public buildings and open spaces
Residential fabric and natural open spaces gradually integrated into one another.
Residential
Commercial
Public
Open spaces
Employment
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Lexicon of possible interventions
Example | public spaces Example | streetscape
From the Lexicon, a multidisciplinary team can choose from combinations of these qualitative principles uniquely tailored to specific areas of the city that will encourage growth, inclusiveness, and the development of services and amenities, while at the same time reducing vacant and wasted space. During and following implementation the Urban Cell process will continue with ongoing analysis and testing. This will insure an evolutionary and responsive opportunity for the planners and the community.
Site
Example | residential typologies
The next steps look to a lexicon, a constantly updating tool kit of possible interventions and policy options that is made available to planners, architects, policy makers, community organizers, and even residents themselves. The lexicon is based on analyzing case studies thoroughly, identifying their planning principles, concepts and frameworks, and then extracting successful lessons to utilize as tools. The initial lexicon touches on four main subjects - typologies, open spaces, streetscapes, and management that comprise together the building blocks for planning an urban cell. As an on-going and evolving bank of ideas, the lexicon will expand into other themes, depending on the cell’s context.
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Urban dock LaLaport Toyosu, Earthscape, Japan: Tokyo, 2006
Hagen Island, MVRDV, Netherlands: Ypenburg, 2001 Photo: Rob ’t Hart
SW Corridor Park, Master plan: River studio, USA: Boston, 1990
description
planning principles
Program: Playing, gathering, relaxation. Components: Hardscape, three-dimentional surface, vegetation, unique street furniture. Audience: Children, adult. Quality: Creating intimate spaces within a large plaza. Diverse spatial situations and oppotunities for sittting and playing. High visibility throughout the site.
The surface as a means for creating a wide variety of (dynamic and static) spatial experiences. Using the section as a planning tool, and the pavement as a means for creating rhythm and continuity.
Diagramatic section
Program: Affordable housing, 119 residential units. Components: Pre-cast construction method, distinctive materials and design, private open spaces adjacent to public spaces. Audience: Under-privileged families. Quality: Pedestrian-oriented residential environment, that challenges traditional suburban model. Parking located on the site’s perimeter. Repetitive and easy to implement design.
Clusters of row residential buildings, in different lengths. location of the building in the site produces a range of open spaces. landscaping that avoids fences enforces the relationship between private and public spaces.
Diagramatic plan
Program: A linear urban space that combines circulation with other activities. Components: Traffic calming, vegetation, natural and artificial shading, activity areas (such as playgrounds, dog park, community garden) Audience: Children, adults, senior citizens, pets. Quality: planning a path as a “place�. Using the street section for creating a variety of activities and events, for all age groups.
An urban park as an assemblage of diverse spaces and as a connection between adjacent residential fabrics.
Diagramatic section
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The Urban Cell: Case Study in Glikson Neighborhood Analysis on multiple scales Glikson is one of Kiryat Gat’s more unique neighborhoods. Mostly built during the 1960’s, it comprises of several building typologies, many of them 2-3 stories high. Although the neighborhood’s spatial array creates well-proportioned public spaces they are often underutilized and in poor condition, without shading or proper street furniture. Similarly, the small commercial area in the center of the neighborhood is almost deserted. The Wadi and Route 35 create rigid borders that disconnect the neighborhood from its surroundings. However, the neighborhood has great potential, mainly due to its location near the city center (to the south), the Wadi (to the west) and the planned park (to the north). It had good accessibility to the city’s entrance as well as to the civic and commercial core. It comprises of a cohesive community and a diverse and unique housing stock.
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The wadi as a buffer
Neglected communal spaces
Underutilized public spaces planning framework
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Local,Inter-cell connection Focal points connector Main arteries Focal Point Rigid cell wall Permeable cell wall Open Spaces
Industry
Commerce
Transportation
Living
Division into Cells 1
Congruent area focal points connectivity
urban cell located near a transportaand municipal hubs
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After the analysis, the next step is dividing the Local,Inter-cell connection neighborhood into urban cells. In orderFocal topoints blur existing connector rigid border such as the Wadi and RouteMain 35, and in order arteries to improve connectivity between cells, the division does Focal Point not follow and neighborhood’s administrative borders Rigid cell wall but rather challenges them, expanding Permeable the intervention cell wall area into adjacent neighborhoods and open space. Sport
Culture
Education
Tech
Employment
Existing Living
Nature
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Axial focal points connectivity
Open Spaces
Industry
Transportation
Commerce
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Connectivity over main routh
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Congruent area focal points connectivity
5 Culture
Education
Tech
Employment
Existing Living
Nature
Open Spaces
Industry
An already well defined urban cell can be updated,recieving more functions and typologies, enriching its program
Transportation
Commerce
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6
Connectivity through and beside another cell
A permeable central cell diffrent types and scales
Living
s as a transportational hub and it’s character from it
Sport
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Connectivity along main routh
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Axial focal points connectivity
3
4
Connectivity over main routh
Local,Inter-cell connection A central urban cell located near a transportationanal and municipal hubs
Focal points connector Main arteries
Living
Focal Point Rigid cell wall
Public
Industry
acts as a basis for different rogramatic functions
5
Open Space
Commerce
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Congruent area focal points connectivity
Living
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An already well defined urban cell can be updated,recieving more functions and typologies, enriching its program
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A cell integrates new and existing types of housing
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2
Axial focal points connectivity
3
Permeable cell wall
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Connectivity over main routh
Connectivity along main routh
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Connectivi and beside cell
A cell acts as a transportational hub and .recieves it’s character from it
Local,Inter-cell connection
A central urban cell located near a transportationanal and municipal hubs
Focal points connector
חקלאות- ירוק
Main arteries Focal Point
טבע- ירוק
Rigid cell wall Permeable cell wall
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Incorporating nature within the cell
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A cell integrates new and existing types of housing
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Public
Industry
Open Space
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Industry acts as a basis for different kinds of programatic Commerce Living functions
ירוק
A cell acts as a transportational hub and .recieves it’s character from it
מוקדים א
Public
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Incorporating nature within the cell
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Industry
Open Space
Commerce
Living
מוקדים ב
תנועה א Industry acts as a basis for different kinds of programatic functions
תנועה ב בינוי א
Public
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Industry
Open Space
Commerce
Living
בינוי ב
Overall Plan The objective of the overall plan is twofold: First, to emphasize the connectivity scheme and the relationships between the cells, based on the cells’ initial division and definition. Second, to define programs, connections and interventions within each individual cell.
Public space, inter-cell scale Public space, cellular scale Public space, green New housing Connectivity, inter-cell Connectivity, cellular חקלאות- ירוק טבע- ירוק ירוק
מוקדים א
מוקדים ב
תנועה א
תנועה ב בינוי א
בינוי ב
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Zoom-In Plan
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A PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE PATH WITH VARIOUS ACTIVITIES and programs
Sports and recreation Sitting area Bicycle path
A small-scale public space Screen and messageboard
Hardscape Diverse options for sitting
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