D. Eytan / R. Lahav-Rigg
Architects & Planners

Ruth Lahav Archive

Beit Halochem Ashdod Competition

• Planning
  R. Lahav–Rigg Architects & Town Planners, 2002
  Client: Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization
  Competition by invitation
• The Competition
  Beit Halohem centres in Israel — Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization's House — provide a place where the disabled can participate in sports and related activities suited to their individual disabilities.
  Sports programs are a major contribution to successful rehabilitation by maintaining the members' physical fitness and preventing deterioration. The centres also offer a wide range of social and creative activities for the members.
  Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization commissioned an architectural competition for the design of two new centres, in the cities of Ashdod and Beer Sheva, for the benefit of their local members.
• Design Concept
  Beit Halochem is located at the city's edge, with picturesque views to the sea and dunes, in a wide area with large grounds.
  The complex is divided into two wings: a northern wing facing the sea and a southern wing facing the dunes and the city. The wings are designed as two parallel streets, which are in turn divided into a side street and a main street.
  The streets are designed so that the public activities play out in the central areas open to the community, while the more private activities (rehabilitation, education etc.) are located in the quiet side streets.
  The variation between public and private is created by interweaving the inner streets along the length of the building, creating junctions of opaque and clear pathways.
  The lengthwise design of the building, with open ends of the streets, allows for future expansions.
• Green Design
  The building is oriented on an east-west axis, with longer north & south elevations.
  The division of the complex by inner courtyards along the east-west axis lets in sunlight in winter, and allows for shading in the summmer.
  In summer the building would be cooled down by nightly breezes flowing through the inner courtyards and with use of diferential thermostats in the various rooms for additional air flow. Locating the pool at the west end of the central courtyards also creates evaporative cooling throughout the day. In winter the southern facade will collect direct sunlight which will help heat the building.