residential studio | TALPIOT INDUSTRIAL AREA
2017
The semester deal with the concept of "home," but expanded to an examination of the urban residential environment. Examination of different urban situations led us to the exposure of various urban systems as well as issues related to the quality of urban space and its suitability to various forms of living. The semester began with a structured process of analyzing an urban area, the Talpiot industrial zone located in south-east Jerusalem, which included collecting, mapping, processing and presenting data about the area. Analysis of the area led to the identification of various functional systems, infrastructures and urban phenomena that in turn led to the identification of local planning dilemmas. In the second half of the semester, in response to these dilemmas, we formulated a program (the planning brief) and proposed site positioning for its implementation. We continued to develop projects that offer residential environments that support current and dynamic lifestyles, whilst providing spatial and functional solutions to the planning dilemmas we have identified. My project dealt with the dilemma between the old and the new, understanding the existing qualities of the building before new construction. The initial thought was to leave as is, the existing situation in the ‘Hittites area’ in Talpiot. This is to exploit the full potential of the existing structural constructions, which have existed for about 50 years and that have over time been used for different programs. The introduction of residential units to the industrial zone in Talpiot required me to consider the open spaces surrounding it. This was in order to make the area a more pleasant residential area, to cope with the noise from the surrounding busy streets, the noise of the factories and provide functional solutions for the realization of the project.
Led by: Avner Ofek & Tami Ollech Lerer