This project proposes the revitalization of a contaminated, neglected industrial site in the Shaman Coast area of Haifa. The design addresses planning challenges such as polluted soil and neglected historical buildings, like the former Animal Quarantine Station. The core strategy is based on three planning principles: land purification using vegetation (phytoremediation), introducing leisure and recreational uses, and preserving the industrial heritage.
The project’s conceptual framework is a continuous cycle of Purification, Production, and Research & Development. The Purification phase uses specific plants like Mustard, Red Clover, and Sunflower for direct planting in the contaminated soil to clean it. The Production element focuses on utilizing vertical space for horticulture, with Research and Development constantly monitoring and optimizing the process. This is translated architecturally by allocating dedicated spaces for these functions across three floors, with the Purification area also serving as a Visitor Center.
Architecturally, the new structures respect the site’s history, using a steel structural system based on the original cowshed. The design incorporates a dynamic facade system with a curtain wall and variable panels (including clear glass and opaque polycarbonate). A key technical feature is the internal vertical green wall system and an external mesh layer for climbing vegetation. The complex is arranged around a central pedestrian space (“The Main Avenue”), functioning as an ecological and social hub that bridges the industrial past with sustainable, future-focused technology.
Project Partner: Shai Nadelsticher
