The city of Beer-Seva (pop. 205,000, area 30,000 acres) is the nucleos of the forth metropolitan areas in Israel, capital of its southern region. On the sdge of the Negev Desert, it was built mainly since the 1950’s. The city’s typical pattern is a number of seperate neighborhoods of  social housing blocks, some are delapidated today, with wide roads in between. Its outer rings has been built since 1990’s with suburban character. The overall density is very low and the city  lacks urban vibrance or even a clear center. Nevertheless, the thriving Ben-Gurion University, some colleges, new start-up companies and the large Soroka Medical Center give hope that a change is possible.

Our Masterplan (plan #605-0145763) main goal is to enhance the urban presence of the city.  On the one hand, stopping its continuous suburban sprawl and alternatively divert its growth (expected optimistically to be up to 300,000 in 15 years)  to intensify its core. The built up are was therfore limited, surrounded by a green belt using purified water. The old four central neighborhoods are to be totally renewed along with the ambition to transform the city’s roads to boulevards and streets with continuous active facades, based on public transport and generous shaded areas.