"THE neighboRING" – a new type of a community center in Waddi Joss, based on existing human connections and built infrastructures.
In My project I've tried to deal with a reality in which there are two states in the region. Jerusalem is divided into 2 cities and function as a capital. In the Palestinian side – an urban continuity must be kept between Ramalla and Beth lehem through Eastern Jerusalem in order to keep a proper life span. The Israeli state will stay a Jewish state (or state for Jews). In an attempt to give a realistic solution, and although almost half of the Jewish inhabitants of Jerusalem live in confiscated lands (almost 250,000 out of around 500,000), most occupied lands which are inhabitanted by a mass majority of Israelis – will stay in the Israeli Jerusalem. In this situation, inhabitants of each side how find themselves in enclaved neighborhoods in the "other side" will have the option to choose where would they like to live in. each state will have to respect the wish of the settlers, and treat them as their own citizens.
In my Architecture work I've tried to deal with the Palestinian community of Waddi Joss which will stay in the Israeli Jerusalem as a minority. I've tried to connect the neighborhood to the west part of the city and prove that normal life can exist, based on economic relations and common interest. I wished to attract people from both sides. For the Israelis -I've noticed that Israelis come to Waddi Joss's car workshops in order to fix their cars. For the Palestinian minority – I wanted to design a community center. I created a functional Hybrid that combines between these two elements. Inside THE neighboRING, using elementary architectural tools, I made the people interact.
