Eastern Rehovot’s Urban Renewal

The development of a distinct, clear, and stable urban space is the fundamental mechanism for developing a community life, education, and creativity. The urban vision for Rehovot, as defined in the master plan: “City of Science, Education, and Culture,” is achieved through innovative urban observation. First and foremost, by the changing needs of the “creative class,” also defined as Generation Y, whose requirements for livelihood, housing, and lifestyles are completely different from older generations.

The requested program represents a new planning approach that emphasizes the importance of public space and allocates 65% of the total area for public needs. The remaining 35% is intended for commercial, residential, and employment areas.

The program was designed to guarantee uses at any scale, from the district level to the neighborhood level and the residential block level. The mix of uses, in combination with the distinct public space, creates the synergy to achieve the city’s vision.

The plan offers wide boulevards that continue the existing streets towards the agricultural fields. The traffic on these boulevards is open to the horizon of the fields to the east, thus opening up the city to various development possibilities for the future. At the same time, the plan recognizes the importance of preserving the historical values of the city.

The program is green-oriented.
The implementation of solar roofs, drainage reuse systems, and pneumatic garbage collection systems (collecting air with pressurized gas) could be integrated in the future. The residences will be developed according to a detailed program for various types: regular homes, housing for rent, sheltered housing, public housing, etc.

The primary residential unit has a size of 90/180 m, about 16 dunams, and is divided into two sub-units: an agricultural community garden in the east-west direction and a public park in the north-south direction. The residential unit contains about 300 units in a density of about 25 units per net dunam in autonomous buildings of 6-8 floors. Commercial and office uses are planned along the streets (also possible in building line 0). Along the community gardens maintained by the residents of the urban block, there are small public buildings such as kindergartens and daycare centers, etc. A primary residential unit is an autonomous unit based on the principle of mixed uses.