Location: Katamon, Jerusalem, Israel.
Project was done during the exchange program in Liechtenstein university, Architecture MSc.rnThe topic of urban kibbutz is new not for only architects, but also for members of kibbutz. The future of entire kibbutz movement is not clear. That is why the members of a traditional kibitzes are creating new urban kibbutzes on their own. Moreover, all of them has their own ideology.rnrnMalha neighborhood was chosen as a project site. It is located in the south-eastern part of Jerusalem. After a long modernization process that was held by the Israeli government, Malha became one of the expensive neighborhoods in Jerusalem. With a big immigration process, lots of new houses were build. Strong infrastructure attracted different types of building, like schools, kindergartens, sport facilities, shopping centers, zoo, technological park, and a Malha railway station.rnrnThe kibbutz for 2000 inhabitants is located on land with area of 100 hectares. The reason of it’s location was presence of a strong infrastructure. This factor reduces the distance between kibbutz complex and nearby highway.rnrnThe topology of the kibbutz complex is based on a rectangular grid. It creates lot of connections between several levels. The living space is the content of entire grid. Each living house is based on 5 different types of apartments. The reinforced concrete structure creates big benefits for further reconstruction processes. Like an ideology of kibbutz, the complex is adopted to the dynamic style of life. That is why it is more flexible, than a regular, conventional housing.rnrnEntire project was done according to the sustainable construction process. Starting from rough building materials and finishing with a climatological analysis of entire kibbutz complex. For walls, rammed earth technique is used, as it is a local material and has much better characteristics that conventional concrete wall.rnrn
