We are asked to build an apartment building in Batei Nidin district. It’s located between the Old city Jerusalem’s built legacy, and Downtown Triangle the commercial and entertainment district, where alleys are narrow and vernacular architecture leans on each other. Our design is maintained by an old stone building existing on site. We had to deal with density established in a congested neighborhood. So, we chose to work on yard’s and pavilion’s topic.
2. Morphology:
We stacked habitation massing on top of each other surrounding a central patio. We opened private terraces and public green rooftops on every levels. The vertical circulation allowed independent entrances for all apartments by crossing suspended bridges.
1. Context:
The site is located in a residential area close to a major road and facilities.
Architecture in Jerusalem was shaped on different settlers’ influences over time. Arabs built small stone houses with flat or dome roofs. Crusaders built fortresses on strategic hilltops. Christians built churches. Templers built homes with tiled roofs like those in the German countryside.
In order to create harmony, the city required using Jerusalem stones on all constructions’ elevations. When you build in the historical center, you need to preserve existing architecture and be worried about more recent preoccupations to insure a better way of living.
The project capture the spirit of a Mediterranean mountain village by juxtaposing soft slope’s aluminum roofs. We used smooth Jerusalem stones to contrast with the old walls, as well as tinted concrete for arcades and moldings. The vertical circulation is a tower of glass and aluminum surrounded by stone covered arcades. We differentiated narrow and large elevations with different window types. We juxtaposed new construction above ancient by introducing in between a glass strip.
Taking measures downtown has to be a humble act. But, we can improve people’s lives in crowded city by multiplying orientations, views and green spaces.
