הזיית גבעון

Contemporary urban planning processes are reshaping the urban fabric and fragmenting it into islands. The consolidation and re-parceling of plots, together with the concentration of land in the hands of a small number of planners and developers, produce large-scale enclaves. The boundary between private and public space becomes blurred, creating hybrid conditions in which spaces perceived as public are privately owned, or public spaces become enclosed and serve a limited audience. In practice, order, security, and a controlled climate are often preferred by the broader public over the chaos, spontaneity, and anonymity offered by the traditional public realm. Givon Square is surrounded by urban islands that function as enclaves with clearly defined uses. The square’s unique condition, having been transformed from an open parking lot into a public plaza, turns it into a kind of backyard, almost entirely enclosed by built structures that define its surroundings and create a soft boundary. The project positions itself as a mirror image of the proliferating urban islands and proposes designing Givon Square as a city with a defining enclosure that enables the formation of an independent society. This city connects to the surrounding urban islands through shared uses and circulation routes, while providing communal spaces that are woven throughout its entire length and returning numerous intermediate spaces to the public.