This is my Master’s thesis project, proposing an alternative to Modernism’s ‘Tabula Rasa’ approach. Instead of imposing a rigid grid, this design uses the existing environment as the source of form. The project focuses on the contested, 80% natural Herzliya coast, challenging the conventional large-scale urban plan HR-2200.
The planning is driven by four key forces: the sea, sand dunes, vegetation, and existing paths. The project employs a parametric methodology where site data is translated into strict building rules. For instance, construction is limited to areas with less than a 6% slope, and building height is inversely proportional to path density (max 6 stories).
The resulting architecture is profoundly site-specific: a terraced urban scheme (15,790 units, 65% open space) that organically echoes the sand dunes. It integrates the existing trail network as a three-dimensional circulation system, creating public and semi-public spaces generated directly by the terrain.
This innovative, data-driven design was recognized with a nomination for the prestigious Reisskin Award.
