New Masterplan for Ben Gurion University. Competition
MASTERPLANS
The master plan for the campus aims to expand the existing campus by an additional 255,000 sqm. The plan is based on the cornerstones of the existing design such as its main axis and plazas.
The design draws inspiration from the past while sketching future trajectories of development and reconsider the role and typology of contemporary universities. This is done by closely relating to the existing context, exposing and discovering the architecture already in place as opposed to importing new architectures.
The design follows the original grid structure through a series of new public plazas which define three main levels. The public level consists of the shared programs while the research buildings, classes and dorms are elevated. The administrative buildings are located at a central level.
The project emphasizes a compact plan with short walking distances, therefore reducing the need for Infrastructure and leads to savings in energy and other resources. Designed around pedestrians, the public space is defined through a series of intertwined plazas that act as a spine for the campus.
The building typology uses a familiar desert typology – the courtyard buildings, which contains shaded courtyards that allow for natural air flow, favorable micro-climate and flexibility in its internal division. The typological variations are created in opening these courtyards to the public space, or in creating openings in the buildings’ mass, all according to programmatic requirements.
Competition
Beer Sheva, Hanegev, Israel
Built area: 153,000 sqm
Outdoor space: 102,000 sqm
Collaborators: StudioPEZ
2013