PUSH
Pilot Sites Design Workshop
August 28-29, 2008
Designing Our Shared
Space
Executive Summary
View and Download a PDF of the Executive
Summary
Table of
Contents
Agenda
Workshop Overview
Draft Designs and Design Summaries
Site Visit Participants List
PUSH
Design Workshop Agenda
Hosted by Bezalel Academy for Arts
and Design, School of Architecture
Bezalel Street 1, Jerusalem
Thursday, August 28,
2008
8:30: Introduction of workshop objectives and
participants
Harmonizing our Shared Heritage, Presented by Professor
Michael Turner
9:30: Presentation of Six Pilot Sites and
Discussion
Presented by Arch. Osama Hamdam, Al Quds University,
Dr. Mohammed Waheeb, Jordan Society for Sustainable
Development and
Arch. David Guggenhim, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design
10:30: Conceptual Planning: Interdisciplinary
workgroups explore the space between communities and sites
12:30: Lunch
13:30: Conceptual Planning: Interdisciplinary
groups continue work
15:00: Group Presentation I: Preliminary
summaries and plenary discussion
16:00: Conceptual Planning: Interdisciplinary
groups continue work
20:00: Dinner, Angelica Italian Restaurant,
Shatz Street (opposite Bezalel)
Friday, August 29,
2008
8:30: Conceptual Planning: Interdisciplinary
workgroups prepare presentations
10:00: Group Presentation II: Intermediary
summaries and plenary discussion
11:00: JSSD team members depart for Allenby
Bridge (closed by 14:00)
11:15: Conceptual Planning: Integration plenary
comments into final presentation
12:30: Lunch
13:30: Final Group Presentations
15:30: End of Workshop
Executive
Summary
The PUSH Pilot Site Design
Workshop aimed to propose practical design strategies for
embedding the concept of shared cultural heritage
at the six PUSH Pilot Sites. To this aim the PUSH project
assembled a diverse group of professionals including
Palestinian, Israeli and Jordanian architects,
archeologists, site managers, historians, tourism planners
and other experts in fields related to cultural heritage
together in an intensive two-day workshop. Throughout the
workshop the participants both engaged the sensitive
question of how to present the concept of shared to the
public through site interpretation strategies while putting
the ideas down in draft design plans. The design plans
initiated at the workshop will be included in the PUSH site
manuals alongside other material to assist site managers
and beneficiaries to put the concept of shared heritage to
work at their sites.
During the course of the workshop the participants broke
out into three interdisciplinary cross-border workgroups
each group working together to propose some new design
elements for the six PUSH pilot sites. The following pages
include the draft design plans produced by the three teams.
Each draft plan is accompanied by a short explanatory text
highlighting the major elements of the plan.
Draft
Designs and Design Summaries
Beit
She'an
The archaeological site of
Beth Shean is a well developed site under the supervision
of the Israel Nature and National Parks. In a previous
meeting between PUSH team and Mr. Nisim Badus, the site's
manager, he raised the claim that there are almost no
connections between the inhabitants of Beit She'an and the
archaeological site. The Israel Nature and National Parks
operates today a "Site-Community" program that trains
volunteers from the local community to lead tours in the
site.
Building on the success of the "Site-Community" program,
the PUSH team proposed a few ways to further encourage
linkages between site and community.
The area between the archaeological site and the
modern city- today there is a kind of a buffer
zone between the historical site and the city. Part of this
area is a green park but most of it is not very well
defined. It is suggested to think how to treat this area
and how to maybe re-define it. It is suggested to use this
area as a connecting area that will join the site to the
city. One of the suggestions is to enlarge the park and
make it more useful for both the visitors and the locals.
Entrances to the site: it is suggested to
develop additional entrance points to the historical site.
Today there is only one entrance point to the site and
there is a need to further develop this area. Additional
entrance points will make the connection between the
national park and other area attractions stronger.
The city, the site and the historical
background.
It is suggested to excavate additional sections of the
historical city, outside of the current site. Excavations
in the area of the modern city could possible lesses the
existing division between the site and the city.
It is also suggested to further expand the axis of the
ancient streets towards the modern city and in this way
create a continuation between past and present.
Additional ways to connect the day-to-day lives of the
people of Beit She'an to the site.
The water motif: connect to modern and ancient cities
together with the re-building of the old aqueducts that
supplied water to the city during antiquity.
A gateway to the adjoining areas – the
historical site should be developed as a gateway to the
Jezrael and Beit She'an Valleys.
The entrances to the city. It is suggested
to create a thematic connection between the four different
entrances to the city by using the historical site.
Gesher
The site of Gesher is
stretched over a considerable area. This fact has both
advantages and disadvantages from a design/ development
perspective. On the one hand the site is a unique and
interesting tourist site which provides visits with an
exceptional experience. On the other hand, the site suffers
from a lack of order in both theme and design. This is due
to a long process of development, with multiple bodies
initiating the different sub-sites. Since there is no
master plan for Gesher, the site is built out of different
touristic sections that were developed separately. The
outcome of this process is that the site is blessed with
abundance of narratives and sub-sites but suffers from a
lack of unifying frame. The PUSH team believes that an
architectural and design intervention might solve many of
the thematic and design challenges present at the site
today.
Characterization of the Site's needs:
There is a need to define more clearly the
sites borders.
Likewise, the site's entrance point doesn't connect to all
of the site's sub-sites and focal points.
Access: the intersection between the main road and the site
is problematic. A sign directs visitors to Old Gesher but
the fact that the site cannot be seen from the main road in
problematic. How can we attract those who ride route 90 to
visit Kibbutz Gesher?
Theme: The site contains a wealth of historical narrative,
testimony to the area's central position as a historical
crossing over the Jordan River. As such the site
encompasses the ancient bridges, a Mamluk Khan, the Ottoman
period customs house, a British Mandate police building,
the old bunker, the former site of Kibbutz Gesher and the
"Gesher Experience" among others. Each of these sub-sites
plays a unique and important part of the Gesher narrative.
A unifying narrative that would make a theoretical and
physical connection between these different sub-sites would
be beneficial to guide visitors through the site.
Management: Several different bodies have played a role in
managing the site's development and management. Today the
site is operated and managed by Kibbutz Gesher. Other
contributing bodies include the Society for Preservation of
Israel Heritage Sites and the Israel Antiquity Authority,
who is in charge of excavations and preservation at the
site.
The Jordan River: The Jordan River and the historical
bridges that gave the area it's great historical value are
the central shared themes at the site. Furthemore as one of
only a few sites where visitors can reach the Jordan River
south of the Sea of Galilee the role of the Jordan River in
the Gesher narrative should be fortified. This connection
is important to the physical and thematic development of
the site.
PUSH Team Suggestions.
During the process numerous existing focal
points were identified.
The Roman-Mamluk Bridge, the most ancient historical
component in the site, served the people using the Roman
road that crossed the river at this point and connected
Scythopolis with the rest of the Decapolis cities like
Pella and Gadara.
Gesher's position on the Jordan River serves as one of the
area's strongest motives. There are only few places along
the river where tourists can reach the important River.
Gesher can give tourists and pilgrims alike this unique
experience.
The Mamluk Khan (caravanserai) served the people using the
main road during the Late Muslim period.
The Hejaz railway and the railroad bridge over the River
Jordan served the area from the Late Ottoman period. The
bridge one of the most unique illustration of the region's
important railway system and can be further emphasized. In
Gesher, a connection can be made between the story of the
Hijaz Railway system and the more local story of the train
that crossed Jezrael valley and connected Haifa to Jordan.
The British Bridge that was built during the Mandate period
to accommodate road traffic replacing the older bridge.
Pinkas Rotenberg's hydroelectric power plant, located at
the neighboring site of Nahariyim is both geographically
and thematically connected to the site of Gesher. The power
station provided electricity to communities on both sides
of the Jordan River from 1932-1948.
The original settlement site of Kibbutz Gesher.
Migratory Flyways: The site of Gesher, like Bakoura, lies
along one of the most important migratory flyways in the
world – the Jordan River Valley. As such it provides a
crucial resting point for migratory birds and could
potentially be developed to attract bird watchers.
Agriculture. The site is located at the heart of a rich
agricultural site, with many dates plants, fish ponds, etc.
Routes and trails
PUSH team suggests forming three routes, each of
them emphasizes different narrative and themes. Visit can
be done by using a car, or by riding bicycles or walking.
The Roman Road Trail: This route connects
the railway station, the Khan and the Bridges and leads
towards the Jordan River. It is hoped that in the future it
will be also an entrance point to the Jordan River Peace
Park (see Bakoura text for more details).
Nature, Man and Environment/ The Ecology and Agriculture
Trail: This route will highlight the abundance of water in
the area and will be connected to bird-watching and
fishing. This trail will cross the date plant and the fish
ponds and will reach the promenade along the river. Here,
it is also expected that a future connection will enable
bird-watchers and others to cross the river to the other
side.
Settlement and Industry Trail: This route will connect the
modern Kibbutz with the site of the historical kibbutz
together with the site of the British police building and
the old railway.
Focal points that should be treated. PUSH
team suggests acting in the following
directions:
Create "Teasing Zones"
along route 90 that will enable people to watch the site of
Gesher from the highway.
Define more clearly the entrance point from the main road
and form an entrance where the visitors will get some
information about what has the site to offer.
There is a need to emphasize the importance of the bridges
in the history of the site.
The Mamluk Khan is being used even today in cultural events
and this activity could be broadened.
It is suggested that the British Police building will be
developed as a hotel.
Focal activity points.
Entrance point to the site.
The Roman road
Eco-tourism
Visitor overnight accommodation: Kibbutz Gesher, the
British police building or a camp site.
The Agora of the site in the area of the old Khan
The river and the historical crossing points
Irtas
The PUSH team found the
theme of water to be the central unifying narrative at the
site. The system of connecting pools and aqueducts in
Irtas, which supplied Jerusalem with fresh water from the
Roman period to the beginning of the twentieth century,
provides both a natural and a historical narrative for
visitors to the site. The theme of water at Irtas creates a
natural connection to other important sites throughout the
area including Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Herodion. During
the Roman period, an impressive series of open reservoirs
were built in Irtas. The collected water was directed via
aqueducts to Jerusalem and Herodion, including the palace,
fort and new city built by Herod during the first century
BCE. Building on these natural and historical linkages the
PUSH team proposed to develop the water theme through the
establishment of the "The Water Trail", a foot path
connecting Irtas's "Solomon's Pools" to Herodion via the
aqueducts.
The team stressed the importance of developing several
focal points at the site to direct visitor circulation
including:
A clear entrance to the historical site at Irtas.
An entrance area to include parking space, restaurants and
toilets. This area will also serve as a departure point to
the Water Trail.
The Water Trail could have several branches including a
circular trail and a longer trail.
There will be a defined place where tourists will start
their visit and another location where they will be picked
up by buses.
An observation point could be established at Hirbet Huch
Linkages will be encouraged between the area's other
attractions including:
The village square with the spring.
The folklore museum
The historical Madafe
A Mamluk water mill
The British council gate
Sections of the historical water channel to the site of
Herodion.
Agriculture (terraces)
Different crops such as lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes etc.
Organic food.
Lettuce festival
Visitor circulation can be further expanded to create
linkages and between Irtas, Herodium and Bethlehem.
Sabastia
The team discussed the
relationship between the roman city, the mediaeval village
and the present-day community. The area within the Roman
walls should remain essentially as an archaeological park,
while the medieval village could be rehabilitated and used
for providing services to the site and community. The
pressures for development should be focused to the east,
while preserving the area around the archaeological park as
a cultural landscape encouraging its use with traditional
agricultural activities.
The team identified the route for the narrative and
recommended six sites for detailed design and action:
1. Cathedral and Mosque
2. Forum
3. Theatre and Hellenistic tower
4. Temple of Augusta
5. The colonnade street
6. The Roman gate and walls
Based on this route the visitors would be encouraged to use
the mediaeval village area for starting or ending their
visit. To fully integrate the site with the community and
identify actions which will have short-term effect. Three
critical areas of activity were considered.
A. The rehabilitation of the mediaeval village. An
interpretation centre could be established within one of
the existing building together with restaurant and other
facilities.
B. On-going archaeological excavations and conservation to
highlight the elements of the city plan and its
architecture, especially those that are comparable with Bet
Shean and Pella
C. Develop a village policy
for the preservation of the cultural landscape and the
encouragement of the traditional agricultural activities
including olives and orchards in the terraced terrain.
Pella
The historical site of Pella
is a partially excavated, undeveloped site. This state can
serve as an advantage in framing the narrative and
interpretation of the site while at the same time calls for
considerable investment.
The PUSH team raised several central points that can serve
as a basis for further development at the site.
The main questions – the basis for the program.
What is the main theme behind the site? What
is the most suitable and prominent narrative at Pella? What
narrative will bring visitors to the site, which today
suffers from various physical and planning problem?
What are the site's main components and archaeological
finds?
What are the best observation points to see the entire site
and its different sections?
What is the best location for the entrance point to the
site? Where will the gate be located?
Where should the rest of the site's facilities be
positioned – visitor's center, restaurant, etc.?
Pella's sub-sites and the different narratives.
The most ancient part of the site is located
on a steep hill, in the northern part of the site and is
connected to the Bronze Age.
The Necropolis of Pella, the area where the city's
inhabitants were buried throughout history.
The site of the Roman and Byzantine city. This area,
located in the center of the site, is today the most
visible. This is currently the only place where visitors
can make a physical connection to the history of Pella as a
Decapolis city. This area could also serve to illustrate
the place where the ancient Christian community that fled
Jerusalem possibly lived.
An area with the remains of the city from the Early Muslim
Period. This is one of the two only sites in Jordan, where
remains from the Abbasid periods were found. The site's
uniqueness is also connected to the fact that this was the
place where one of the most important battles between the
Byzantines and the Muslims during the 7th century took
place. The battle was headed by Shurachbeel and the site is
considered sacred by the Muslims. PUSH team found this
narrative to be one of the most promising one, a sub-site
that is capable to generate an Arab based heritage tourism
to the site.
The area of Modern Pella, located to the west of the
ancient site.
The planning proposition
The entrance to the site, together with the
rest of the site's facilities will be located near the
existing road that divides between the Roman site and the
Abbasid site. Today, there is only an un-official entrance
point in this location and there is a need to plan the
site.
Parking: The parking lot will be located near the entrance
point and the existing paved road should be broadened
Different trails should be developed, highlighting the
different narratives in the history of the site.
Trail 1 – from the entrance point, through the observation
point atop the Roman city to the Roman and Byzantine
remains.
Trail 2 – from the Roman city, one can chose two options:
1. Visit to the Necrapolis 2. From the Roman street towards
Modern Pella. This trail passes through the green valley
that is being cultivated today by local residents.
Trail 3 – this trail starts in the parking lot and heads
towards the Abbasid site. Here a question was raised about
how to treat a site where an important battle took place
with no remains to be seen.
Trail 4 – this trail is suitable only for capable walkers.
The trail starts in the inn, located to the east of the
site. From here the trail descends steeply towards to Roman
City. The trail will pass along the "sea level" point where
a sign will mark it. From there the trail will continue
towards the Roman city and will be connected to the
Necrapolis trail.
Rest Areas.
A picnic area will be developed in the green
valley.
A shaded area will be developed in the area of the Abbasid
city, next to the sign and the monument marking the place
where the battle took place.
Local trade and Parking facilities.
Option A: the bus parking lot will be
located at the end of the trail, where the groups of
tourists will be picked up. It is suggested that his area
will be developed also into a place where local merchants
will sell food, souvenirs, etc.
Option B: A commercial zone will be developed closer to
modern Pella.
Bakoura
at the Jordan river
The natural landscape of
Bakoura lies along one of the most important migratory
flyways in the world – the Jordan River Valley. As such
Bakoura provides a crucial resting point for migratory
birds. The Bakoura area is included in the proposed
trans-boundary Jordan River Peace Park, a project being
advanced by the tri-lateral environmental peacemaking
organization Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME). A
master plan for the area was proposed by FoEME together
with Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Yale University
and other architects and planners from Palestine and
Jordan. The area of Bakoura, as envisioned in the FoEME
master plan, focuses on developing the area to support bird
watchers and enable them to stay overnight in the area.
Subsequent phases of the proposed master plan include the
adaptive reuse of the former Rotenberg hydroelectric power
station which provided electricity to communities on both
sides of the Jordan River from 1932-1948.
Building on the Jordan River Peace Park master plan, the
PUSH team focused its efforts on the question of how to
encourage linkages through design between the Bakoura
natural area and the neighboring communities of North Shuna
and Bakoura village. To that aim, the PUSH team proposed
that visits to the Bakoura area begin in the adjoining
village of North Shuna. In the village, local and foreign
tourists have the opportunity to visit local sites outside
of the boundaries of the Jordan River Peace Park such as
the hot springs and thermal baths as well as the ancient
tell. Bi-lingual interpretation signs should be designed
and installed at the tell to explain its history and
importance and along the route to other local sites.
Visitor circulation could be further expanded eastward to
the Wadi Al Arab wetland dam, with an observation point
overlooking the Jordan River and the entire area.
Furthermore, the PUSH team suggested that a regular
transportation line of mini-buses and/or private taxis
could be established between the city centre of North
Shuna, the village of Bakoura and the Bakoura natural area.
This transportation line will shuttle visitors to and from
the Bakoura natural area while at the same time encouraging
visitors to explore North Shuna. At the entrance to the
Bakoura natural area, the PUSH pilot site billboard should
be installed. An observation point should be developed
which would allow visitors to look out over the area
including towards Gesher. Ultimately a path should be
developed to enable visitors to go down to the Jordan
River.
Participants
in Alphabetical Order
Nirit
Bagron, Site Manager,
Gesher Site Manager
Merav
Battat, Bezalel
Academy Architect Student
Dr. Doron
Bar, PUSH Team,
Bezalel Academy
Moshe
Caine, PUSH Team,
Bezalel Academy
Anat
Dror-Sharp, PUSH Team
Assistant, Bezalel Academy Architect Student
Eldar
Gantz, Bezalel Academy
Architect Student
Avner
Goren, Archeologist
Architect David
Guggenhim, PUSH Team,
Bezalel Academy
Architect Osama
Hamdan, PUSH Team, Al
Quds University
Rami
Haruvi, Environment
and Cultural Heritage Program Planner
Yehuda
Hofshi, PUSH Team,
Bezalel Academy
Yosef
Israelshvili, PUSH
Team Assistant, Bezalel Academy Architect Student
Mohammad
Jaradat, PUSH Team, Al
Quds University
Architect Yossi
Klein, Bezalel Academy
Elizabeth
Koch, PUSH Project
Coordinator
Hila
Lotam, Bezalel Academy
Architect Student
Architect Michael Walma
Van Der Molen, Bezalel
Academy
Khaled Nasser,
PUSH Project
Manager, Jordan
Society
for Sustainable Development
Dr. Yusuf
Natsheh, PUSH Project Manager, Al
Quds University
Shoval
Shakri, Bezalel
Academy Architect Student
Professor Michael
Turner, PUSH Project
Manager, Bezalel Academy
Dr. Mohammed
Waheeb, PUSH Team,
Jordan Society for Sustainable Development