1155 | 550 | Urban Fringe Renewal- Israel’s Suburban borders re-defined by mass housing urban renewal projects

Israel is a densely populated and rapidly growing country, and urban renewal is a central tool for addressing its increasing need for sufficient housing (Angel, S. & Feitelson, E. 2004). Much research has been dedicated to this subject, focusing mainly on financial or social aspects. This paper focuses on architectural aspects of mass housing renewal projects on the outskirts of Israel’s suburbs._x000D_
Since its establishment, Israel has gone through several stages of urban renewal, the current one shaped by neo-liberalism and free market entrepreneurial action (Carmon, N. 2014. Alterman, R., & Yiftachel, O. 2018). Despite this declared policy, Israel’s government is highly involved in planning processes (Rosenthal, G. 2017). For example, in urban regeneration, the state can allocate extra land to improve project’s feasibility. This is one cause of the phenomenon discussed in this paper – large scale regeneration projects on the borders of suburban cities, often near highways or industrial areas. The “leftover” land which currently serves as a buffer, turns into residential plots._x000D_
This research observes urban regeneration as a spatial occurrence. It focuses on former social housing complexes on suburban town’s outskirts, undergoing renewal. By analyzing the characteristics of peripheral mass housing renewal plans, it reviews the architectural qualities they offer both for existing home owners and future tenants, addressing living environments opposed to housing as an asset. It also takes a broad look at cities undergoing renewal from the outside- in, discussing these complexes’ role in the regenerating suburban fabric. _x000D_
The research is conducted by an analysis of architectural plans, social and financial reports, official protocols and interviews with stakeholders involved in case study projects. it aims to shed light on current permutation in Israel’s built environment. _x000D_

Tal Sadeh
Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

ID Abstract: 550