כיכר העיר

Throughout history, city halls have been the heart of the urban community, serving as centers of social and political activity. Many cities have a square located near the city hall, it plays a key role in strengthening the relationship between local authorites and its residents by encouraging public engagement. The emergence of technology and online services has almost entirely eliminated the need to physicaly visit city halls, baiscliy transforming them into functional office buildings. "Town Square" is an initiative that seeks to redesign the public space to create a vibrant urban center that strengthens the connection between residents and the local government. It envisions a civic square that serves the people of Ashkelon for various social and cultural activities, including performances, fairs, and protests. To integrate the square with the local aoutorities, city hall offices are dispersed across the complex, rather than being centralized in a single building. The square is designed as a multi-level public space, allowing people to walk on the structures that support the square and foster interactions between citizens and city employees through transparency, eye contact and fisical encounters. The square becomes the people's domain, placing them at the center. The project focuses on Ashkelon City Hall, located in the western part of the city. This area was planned using zoning methods, with each block assigned a specific function. Therefore, it became necessary to develop a space with integrated features, vibrant and mixed-use, that fosters public participation in shaping the city's future. The project emphasizes the importance of the interaction between the city square and the local government, public engagement, and functional democracy in creating a lively and inclusive urban environment.