Special Projects
West Jerusalem Expansion
In 1994, under the auspices of the Israel Land Authority, a major study was launched to determine the long term potential to expand Jerusalem to accommodate future population and employment growth. The study had four components:
- To determine the development potential of the lands west and south of Jerusalem, with special emphasis on environmental concerns, ancient and historical geographical features, and physical constraints.
- An effective, environmentally sensitive transportation system that could effectively serve the expansion and connect it to the coastal plane.
- Potential and location of employment centers.
- Feasibility of extending the municipal structure to encompass the expansion.
The boundary of the study included Ramat Shlomo (in the north), Mevasseret, Maoz Zion, Har Heret (in the West), Hadassah, Moshav Aminadav and Ora, Reches Levan, and Emek Refaim including the historic rail line, as well as the area around Mevo Beitar and Tzur Hadassah (in the South).
The study conducted by Architect Moshe Safdie, featured physical models 1:5,000 scale and proposed development of available and suitable lands, while maintaining valleys for open space and historic cultivated areas. The dominant design principal was the continuity of open space both visually and physically. The large physical models depicting built-up areas, as of 2010 are on display and located in the Municipal hall.
Based on this initial study three more detailed planning studies were undertaken:
The dominant design principal is the continuity of open space both visually and physically. The next planning step, under the auspices of the Jerusalem Development Authority, was to study in more detail the built up areas, the population capacity, building densities, and the road network systems that would be required to support such a development. The base for measuring impacts was the open-space criteria.
The eight year planning process produce a detailed master plan for around 75,000 housing units, a detailed plan for about 30,000 housing units first phase, detailed plans for 450,000 m² employment area and all road systems and infrastructure systems.
The Scope of work included managing and overseeing:
- Preparation and submission of material to the State Municipal Boundary Commission appointed by the Minister of the Interior, accompanying discussions with the Committee to decided whether to accept the recommended program to expand the boundaries of Jerusalem based on the Cities projected population growth. The application was deferred.
- Preparation of a detailed skeleton plan covering 70,000 dunam, which regulates all the roads and traffic systems and other infrastructure in West Jerusalem and allocating land in a residential neighborhood consisting of about 25,000 housing units. The program and plan details were coordinated with all governmental agencies.
- Make revisions to the existing Regional Outline Plan 1/37. This process required modifications to the skeleton Plan and integration within the National Master Plan and the corresponding detailed policies. Five other National Plan amendments were required dealing with urban areas (National Master Plan-Tama 35), open space, green areas, power transmission corridors, national parks, transportation, Antiquities. The plan was recommended by the Local and Jerusalem District Committee for approval and by the by the National Planning Council. When the plans were legally presented for public review there were 16,000 objections. The statutory process was halted by the authorities in 1999, due to environmental concerns.
- Preparation of detailed plan for Har Heret - which includes about 500,000 m ² of employment and 6,000 housing units. The plan included a detailed rehabilitation plan for the old quarry of Heret in Mevasseret Zion. The old inactive quarry itself, with an area of about 200 dunam and a depth of about 70 m, could support about 450,000 m² for employment. The plan was not discussed by the statutory authorities as the master plans had been deferred.
It is possible, that the plans will be re-activated in the near future.
| Client: | Israel Land Authority |
|---|---|
| Location: | West Jerusalem |
| Architect / Planner: | Moshe Safdie |
| Size: | 70,000 dunam |
| Completion: | 2009 |
The long term master plan for the development of Jerusalem is based on a high capacity ring road system that connects the periphery and historical Old city by spokes. The design of such a concept is greatly complicated by the natural topography of hills and deep valleys that necessitate the integration of the environmentally sensitive bridges and tunnels. The west portion of the ring is only 6 km in length but this complex engineering project includes 13 bridges and 4 tunnels, two roofing "cut and cover" systems and central intersections. The road route goes through areas of high sensitive natural environment with connections of main national roads, including optional passages of railways and to existing and planned underground sewage systems.
The scope of work includes management and coordination of design and planning of roads, bridges tunnels, approach connections and feeder systems form existing and planned new communities.
| Client: | Moriah, Jerusalem Development Company, and Jerusalem municipality. |
|---|---|
| Location: | West Jerusalem |
| Architect / Planner: | Moshe Safdie |
| Engineer: | Rosznbaum Moneta |
| Budget: | $150M - 600M shekels |
| Completion: | Planning complete, statutory process under review. |
A statutory plan that would include approximately 31,000 housing units in the vicinity of Moshav Mevo Betar, and Tzur Hadassah was begun in 1994 under the auspices of the Israel Land Authority. Although, somewhat removed from Jerusalem the satellite community was to be connected by Route 39 an freeway joining Malha in Jerusalem with Bet Shemesh.
The scope of work included the management and coordination of a Master Plan accompanied by a zoning planning team that included architects and seven consulting disciplines, preparation of surveys, planning support, three detailed town planning plans (each with an architect/town planner + 5 consultancy disciplines) and coordination of two other planning agencies. There were a total of approximately 30 planning agencies involved in the project. The statutory plans were put on hold pending a decision whether to proceed with a satellite community or include the development within the expanded boundaries of Jerusalem jurisdiction. The issue has not yet been resolved.
| Client: | Israel Land Authority |
|---|---|
| Location: | Tzur Hadassah |
| Architect / Planner: | Rita Nahum Dunsky Reches Eshkol Nahum Meltzer Ruth Lahav Tony Rigg |
| Size: | 31,000 residential units |
| Completion: | 1994-2000 |
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