Haifa is a seaside city, but with no access to the sea. Since the port was built, in 1933 it has blocked the city from the waterfront. Today, its narrow wharves are outdated and hardly active. This is the time to transform it to a new vivid, civic place that will revitalize the city. But, here we find a dense arena of conflicting interests: the City, the Port Company, Dagon Granary, the Navy, Israel Train and more. Finally, it was the Ministry of Interiors who initiated the plan (2010) in order to promote this major urban change.

 Mainly public open space: The main planning challenges were how to actually connect the city fabric to the waterfront, while overcoming the train barrier, and how to design this space. Finally we created large open public space , a promenade with some new “warehouse-like” linear structures that will maintain the port industrial spirit. Building profile is low also to keep the long vistas from the city towards the sea.

The train barrier: The train track will be depressed or relocated, but  it may take years. As an interim solution we created two “bridge” buildings, containing some retail, cafes etc.,  hovering over the tracks, with one foot on the city side and another on the sea side. These buildings also form the urban gateway to the waterfront – “Ben Gurion Plaza”, at the foot of the UNESCO Bahai Garden axis and the Haifa German Colony.

Total area: 120 H, of which land area: 70 H. First stage (the west port): 35 H; Second stage (the military port): 35 H.

Built Area along waterfront, first stage: 100,000 sqm, Length of quayside promenade: 2.4 Km. Land Covarage: 50% pedestrian space, 30% parking and service roads, 20% built area.

see more: Archdaily, July 5, 2013