The city of Be’er Sheva (population of 205,000, area 30,000 acres) is the largest city in southern Israel. Often referred to as the “Capital of the Negev”, it sits on the edge of the Negev Desert and was mainly built in the 1950’s.

The city’s typical pattern consists of several separate neighborhoods offering social housing blocks, some of which are dilapidated today, with wide roads in between them. Its outer ring, built in the 1990’s, has more of a suburban character.

The overall density is very low, and the city currently 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.

The Masterplan’s (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 diverting its growth (expected optimistically to be up to 300,000 in 15 years) to intensify its core.

The plan completely transforms the four existing central neighborhoods, with the ambition to embellish the city’s roads, shifting towards boulevards and streets with continuous active facades, based on public transport routes and generous shaded areas. The built-up area will be surrounded by a green belt using purified water.