Report - Final Proposal

Page 1

Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Scope of Study The following report is a Master I. studio project concerning urban Architectural Design and City Planning. The studio project aims to develop suitable proposal for the city of Haifa, in particular the site of the Memorial Park. This report is based on research and appraisal in key areas of social, cultural, political and economic context which guide the building construction.

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Content 1/ Introduction 2/ History 3/ Planning & Agendas 4/ Society & Culture 5/ Religion 6/ Nature 7/ Economy 8/ Technology 10/ Interference 9/ Ark - Arche - Archive 11/ Studio Work 12/ References

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

INTRODUCTION As the future prosperity of Haifa largely depends on improving relations with the neighbours, the aim of the project is to identify the key area for potential consensus and come up with a proposal which promotes social & cultural cohesion at the local level - acting as a precedent for the entire region. The site represents an opportunity to approach the Near East conflict beyond the political agendas and address the 'troubles' from the bottom up - by creating a space which shall forge a new attitude based on principles of an 'open city'. As the dialog is not likely to be initiated in the capital neither the religious centre of the country, it could be Haifa for its record of peaceful coexistence which can become a key actor in the peace process.

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

HISTORY

alienated countries. While Jerusalem is considered

Two major shifts of status of the regional importance: 1/ During the Ottoman Period in 1860’s because of

as the religious city and Tel-Aviv the bourgeois, Haifa has a reputation of the workers' city. PLANNING & AGENDAS

European siege on Acco consulates and merchants

The first regulatory document for the city dates

moved to Haifa.

back to the colonial period. The Skeleton Zoning

2/ Since the War of Independence in 1948, regional importance has moved from Haifa to TelAviv the capital of a new national state.

Scheme was produced in 1934 and introduced modernist planning principles including the concept of Green Belt and Garden City. Despite that there have been two other masterplans

During the British Mandate - the city was planned

proposed in 1950's and 1960's, none of them have

and developed for purposes of the British Empire

been approved as the colonial zoning plan created

as a strategic industrial and commercial centre of

suitable conditions for the nation state strategies.

Palestine. Development of the seaport, railway

While colonial attempts to transform the city were

junction, oil pipeline to Iraq and refinery before

made in the name of modern urban planning, the

the WWII attracted large number of new residents

national endeavour was based on a far-reaching

and established the city as a gateway and

political agenda. (Kolodney and Kallus, 2008)

transport hub into the entire region.

As a result, the Old City and the oldest

As a result of political conflicts with surrounding countries, despite key role of Haifa during building the nation state and substantial influx of inhabitants during that period, the city has lost its

neighbourhood Wadi Salib were completely erased and the development took direction towards hardly accessible slopes and sometimes isolated locations on the Mount Carmel.

significance for the new capital located to the south, further from the state borders with Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

SOCIETY & CULTURE

city’s reputation of peaceful coexistence; this has

Haifa today has a population of 266,300. The population of Haifa today is 80% Israeli Jews, 4%

not been formally encouraged by planning strategies nor expressed through the Architecture.

Muslim, 6% Christian Arab, and 10% members of other faiths or nonreligious (the vast majority being immigrants from the former Soviet Union). As the Jewish residents are ageing and youth leave the city, the proportion of Arabic people is growing. The inner-city neighbourhoods are relatively homogeneous - Wadi Nisnas, Abbas and Halissa represent concentration of the Arab life in the city, while in Hadar, the most of people speak Russian because of the latest immigration of Jewish from the countries of the former Soviet Union in the 1990s. The oldest city neighbourhood Wadi Salib remains abandoned with many houses in ruins or boarded up. Modern population of Haifa, particularly the Jewish community counts people from all corners of the world. Haifa is thus similarly multicultural and diverse as Brussels in Belgium, Melbourne in Australia or Auckland in New Zealand to name a few. Despite that people of Haifa have earned the Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

NATURE

RELIGION Religion is a socio-cultural phenomenon which has

Looking for an underlying principle or root of

According to Kevin Lynch, people perceive cities as

played an important role in the city and the region.

existing things leads to arche which refers to the

consisting of underlying city form “elements” such

Haifa is home to all four Abrahamic religions:

beginnings of Philosophy or a shift from the

as path, edge, node, landmark and district. In one

Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Bahai faith. All

mythological to rational explanation of the world

of his studies, most people mention water and

of these share in common the Torah as an initial

phenomena based on logical arguments. The word

vegetation, as those kinds of elements which give

sacred text. As the history of religion refers to

arche is akin to the Noah’s Ark and also to its

a strong image. (Lynch, K., 1960) Abundance of

written record of human religious experiences and

newer version – the archive. Archive is a repository

greenery and the water in particular is one of the

ideas, the beginning of this period is related to the

of information which provides evidence about the

most important features, which define the city - it

invention of writing.

history and source of information for the future

is the edge of the city - a place where another

generations.

world begins. Except from the neighbourhood of

Writing is an extension of the human language and represents means for transmitting information across the time and space. By definition, the

Bat Galim, this natural phenomenon represents a missed opportunity.

modern practice of history begins with written

The greatest opportunity lays in the seaside,

records; evidence of human culture without

particularly the area stretching from Bat Galim to

writing is the realm of prehistory. Sacred

the Port's Customs House, which remains fenced

scriptures allowed the Jewish and other ethnic and

as an industrial zone belonging to the Port of

religious groups to preserve their history and

Haifa. This area represents a missed opportunity

identity over long periods of time in disparate

to reconnect the city to the water and promote it

parts of the world. Despite that religion represents

as a public space belonging to all avoiding the

one of the main differences between the Jewish

tiring political, religious and other themes.

and the Arabs; it also defines the basic principles and origins which are common for the both – the sacred scriptures. Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

ECONOMY

TECHNOLOGY

"We are on our own here, if something breaks

In order to compensate limited access to natural

down‌"

resources, there has been a greater emphasis on

Despite its strategic gateway location, the country

research and development of new technologies.

is an island in terms of energy infrastructure. Since

Haifa as a part of Silicon Wadi - the cluster of high-

1948, the British-built pipeline to Haifa remained

tech cities became recognized worldwide for its

dormant, it symbolizes dead end situation of the

achievements in Computer Science. Development

city within the country and the country within the

of new technologies and quality education at the

Spatial and social disintegration was exacerbated

Near East. The issue of oil becomes more and

Technion and University of Haifa, can make the

by constructing a new market closer to the Jewish

more critical with each passing year, for Western

city attractive also for students from the whole

neighbourhood Hadar. More recently there has

democracies in general, and for Israel in particular.

Near East. Young generation from neighbouring

been a trend of constructing shopping facilities

Oil coming through the existing infrastructure

countries would help to establish an open

closer to more affluent neighbourhoods on the

could provide a much-needed break for the

international atmosphere.

Mount Carmel or in the city outskirts. As there is

flagging local economy.

DOWNTOWN

from the government institutions and the Port, there is very little which can bring them to the Downtown. Difficult topography and the fact that the key city assets - shopping centres, two universities and the IT technology park are scattered around the city, cause problems with accessibility and movement.

none or very little of what would remind of a truly public pedestrian active area, there are initiatives

Growth of the information technologies and the

to reanimate the city by making the Downtown

advanced transportation systems has triggered a

more attractive for the young generation. The

shift from a state-centred world of boundaries to a

downtown fails to fulfil a basic function of

city-centred world of flows. The cities increasingly

contemporary city centres as a space of cultural

depend on the level of integration within the

consumption.

global city network. (GaWC, Loughborough University) As the businesses and important companies move from Haifa to Tel-Aviv, the city struggles to keep skilled professionals which attract advanced producer companies. Except Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

CONCLUSION

Haifa can be proud of the progressive Bauhaus

To conclude this analysis, one could argue that the city has suffered from political and socio-cultural issues exacerbated by the modernist planning, declining economy and difficult topography which have torn the urban fabric and its people apart. As

architecture brought during the British Mandate, the city identity and roots of the cultural heritage of the local people reach further into the history. SPATIAL STRATEGIES We propose three basic strategies:

a result, the city took shape of a poorly integrated system, which largely depends on the car travel.

01/ Integrate the city through improving the

The city is characteristic by a non-linear street

existing and adding new public spaces and

pattern following the topographical contours,

pedestrian routes. (Space Syntax)

serpentines, loops but also dead ends. The existing integrating factors of the city - such as staircases interconnecting the streets, open public spaces, public transport and the civic facilities – appear to be outdated, insufficient or completely missing. Erasing the existing and overlaying by new, events of the 20th century uprooted a large part of the city identity which caused a social and cultural discontinuity. However, well-balanced cities provide a balance between the new and old,

02/ Regenerate the area of Wadi Salib. The oldest neighbourhood of city, which remains derelict, should be listed as part of the state cultural heritage and restored as a university accommodation. 03/ Reducing need of car travel by improving the public transport and continually encouraging the single use areas and campuses to move their departments into the Downtown.

renewal and preservation, between innovation and tradition; we believe that this gap between the past and the recent history is one of the main causes severing the image of the city. Even though Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Space Syntax Analysis of Integration The graph shows that the German Colony - the area between the Port and the Baha’i Gardens - is the most integrated part of the city. The competition site is indicated black.

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Space Syntax Integration As Proposed The city can be reintegrated by enhancing existing and adding new connections. Red indicates the most integrated parts of the city. 1/ improving pedestrian connections around the competition site towards the Old City 2/ Establishing a strong link between the Hertzl Street to the Grand Canyon – a future gateway to residential areas on the Mount Carmel 3/ creating a bridge to the neighbourhood Neve Sha’anan

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

THE SITE

access point to the information and digital

Despite that the waterfront area has got a great

highway which connects the city to the world.

potential to integrate the local people avoiding the

Promoting Haifa as a gateway city, our proposal

political, religious and other tiring themes, the

aims to create regional archives as a place with

scope of our project is to come with future

ambient and respectful atmosphere, which would

scenario for El Burj. Situated at the intersection of

be acting as the functional memorial. It will find its

the civic and cultural axes, history of the site is

place in the city much faster and better than

associated with a fortress which used to overlook

conventional memorials which could be pushing a

the seaport and the Old City. As the fortress

finger into historical wounds. Let the history be

remained unbuilt since its demolition in , the site

present in the city but in more rational way. Our

represents a neutral space located amidst the

intention is to connect the archives with

main character areas - Old City, Hadar, Wadi Salib

contemporary library which assumes multiple

and Wadi Nisnas. Situated at the boundaries of

social responsibilities. The civic space will become

these strained Downtown areas, El Burj thus

a lifestyle destination where people get a chance

represents a natural destination for a civic space,

to meet each in a casual or intellectual

which could act as a local landmark and place of an

atmosphere.

overlapping interest. We suggest that development of the regional archives surrounded by a library and a new open public space shall successfully revise the memorial meaning of the site and reinstate a link between the past and future. Same as the old seaport used to be an integral part of the city, importance of the site can be extended through a public library – the main

We let the existing topography impact on the design using local features such as staircases and terraces, that will interconnect the library with a plaza attracting people to enter the site. We want to translate this idea onto a distorted pattern reminding of a maze to let people get lost and found thmeselve again in this new public realm.

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Ark – Archē – Archive

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

ARK Main Entry: ark Etymology: Middle English, from Old English arc, from Latin arca chest; akin to Latin arcēre to hold off, defend, Greek arkein, Hittite ḫark- to have, hold Date: before 12th century 1 a : a boat or ship held to resemble that in which Noah and his family were preserved from the Flood b : something that affords protection and safety 2 a : the sacred chest representing to the Hebrews the presence of God among them b : a repository traditionally in or against the wall of a synagogue for the scrolls of the Torah

ARCHE Main Entry: archEtymology: Middle English arche-, arch-, from Old English & Anglo-French; Old English arce-, from Late Latin arch- & Latin archi-; Anglo-French arch-, from Late Latin arch- & Latin archi- from Greek arch-, archi-, from archein to begin, rule; akin to Greek archē beginning, rule, archos ruler 1 : chief : principal <archfiend> 2 : extreme : most fully embodying the qualities of the kind <archconservative> Arche is a Greek word with primary senses 'beginning', 'origin' or 'first cause' and 'power', 'domination' as extended meanings.[1] This list is extended to 'ultimate underlying substance' and 'ultimate undemonstrable principle'.[2] In the language of the archaic period (8th-6th century BC) arche (or archai) designates the source, origin or root of things that exist. If a thing is to be well established or founded, its arche or starting point must be secure. In the ancient Greek Philosophy: Aristotle forgrounded the meaning of arche as the element or principle of a thing, which although ndemonstrable and intangible in itself, provides the conditions of the possibility of that thing. [3]

ARCHIVE Main Entry: 1ar·chive Etymology: French & Latin; French, from Latin archivum, from Greek archeion government house (in plural, official documents), from archē rule, government — more at ARCHDate: 1603 1 : a place in which public records or historical documents are preserved; also : the material preserved —often used in plural 2 : a repository or collection especially of information Information science is an interdisciplinary science primarily concerned with the analysis, collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information. Revolutionary milestone which stood at the beginning of the Western science was introducing Arabic numerals by Fibonacci. The word algorithm derives from algorism, which is the technique of performing basic arithmetic by writing numbers in decimal positional notation. Computer science finds its roots in algorithmic processes that create, describe, and transform information. Similarly as a path through a city or a maze, algorithm is a list of instructions for completing a task - starting from an initial state, the instructions describe series of successive states. In the context of a city it is necessary, that this transition from one place to the next is not deterministic.

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

TRADITIONAL MORPHOLOGY

ARABIC

EUROPEAN

Instead of planning a trip ahead with a map or using

Introverted buildings

Perimeter blocks with main facades oriented

a GPS as we got used to today, orientation in cities

Narrow corridors with minimum of open public

towards the street or open plazas

which evolved naturally relied on following the

space to protect from hot climate

longest visibility sightlines and use of intuition. Images show that layouts of a traditional Arabic neighbourhood and one example of a medieval town in Europe – both carry similar feature of a distorted grid. In order to find the way, one moves around an open space to explore the sightlines of alternative paths. The routes across the site allow the pedestrians to let themselves guided by their intuition when finding their route and to explore alternative paths. Situating the entries onto the diagonal of the plaza shall encourage people to enter into the library.

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

Studio Work It is not down in any map; true places never are. (Herman Melville) As the resources about the city were primarily electronic and experiences of the local phenomena, atmospheres, rhythms and ways of how the local people use the space were mediated by others or electronically, there had been a tendency to process the information in more general than particular way. Despite that we haven’t arrived to by all means detail design, this studio project has shown how multifaceted and complex design and redevelopment of the built environment is and how to compensate the limited access to information.

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


Group 05: Q Foccaert, P Matuszek, M Mikus & L Pinson

REFERENCES

Zohar, A

Master of Architecture I. - Theoretical Component of uAD Studio with Martine de Maeseneer, Nel Janssens & Koen de Wandeler School of Architecture Sint-Lucas Brussels 2009/2010


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