Arcaid

The point as a representation of unity and foundation

The first wave creating distance between the source, its receiver and the environment

The second move…..creating a boundary

Completing the circle to form a domain

Having acknowledged the connection of a unity between the point, the circle and the whole, we can articulate the process of departure or externalisation, again in terms of the whole circle. As the second circle proceeds on its own course from its position on the radius of the first circle, it divides and creates an in-between area of connection

From these points, a scheme developed using the mosque as a an anchor point of reference, with 2 circles radiating from this both centrally and in tangent
An urban core and a rural core, with a connection element. It was decided that the connection element would be the most suitable area to develop a civic, commercial and community core.

The first circle would be mainly left open as a traditional residential area, relating directly to the long term growth and needs of Ein Hud

As mentioned above much of the development at Ein Hud appears to be incremental in manner, there does appear to be a certain repetitive form of grouping around a low curve, whether intentional or not. The masterplan scheme intends to develop upon this; on average there are 4 buildings per curve, we propose developing a new form of grouped housing on this template which would utilise a block of 5 live-work units, eventually 2 blocks would complete the semi private courtyard, which would provide grouped services, parking and space for future development such as a playground.

Also as citizens will want to be within calling distance of the mosques’ minaret, this space may fluctuate in relation to how much growth would appear in the village, again these are guidelines not strict rules of development.

While the connection area between the 2 circles would also include mainly residential buildings, it is hoped that these homes would incorporate a business element within them (such as the live /work units also proposed) Also included within this area would be designated services such as a medical clinic, school, playground re-cycling facilities and the like. The road running through this area would be shared access, with cars limited to a speed of 5 km/hr. because this road is on a hill and reasonably steep, the footpaths would consist of low rising step, which is traditional to many Arab villages.
Sitting at the pinnacle of this road, opposite the Mosque would be the community / city hall.

The community building firstly has been designed as a symbol of hope and growth. The tower, which interjects the solid mass with the outdoor section, looks to the future, the present as well as the past. As an instrument of teaching and seeing, citizens and visitors may climb the tower and see where they came from, how far they’ve come (grown) and where they will grow to. Relative to the minaret, the tower is shorter to compensate for level differences – both would be hoped to symbolise the strength of Ein Hud.

The community hall sits as a connection between the village and nature; the form of its solid mass continues as the exterior market, which would act as an economic stimulus. Space has been left for this to grow over time.
As a cultural use, the exterior market may be used as a seating area for projecting films onto the tower wall, during a newly established film festival?
While internally the building is designed to be as flexible as possible, it may be used as one large space or it may be divided into many segments with their own direct access to these ‘rooms’. This allows the building to host up 4 different uses at one time, from education classes (computers, languages etc,) to exhibits, to hospitality and music.

As mentioned earlier, there will be a speed restriction running through the main hub of the town, it is also important to develop this elsewhere in the village as indicates, such as in the residential zones, there are speed restriction of 10km/hr. there also exists a hierarchy of road system in relation to widths and footpaths. The new road to Haifa sweeps down to the perimeter of Ein Hod from which the road follows through the village to road No.4

The third major grouping of use is that of the rural zone, which is accessed by a new rural ink with minor links running at right angles to the existing road thus breaking the area up for agricultural uses. This zone may also provide homes for village citizens but would be expected to be of a much lower density and would be nuclear in layout

It is important that the village is responsible in relation to the immediate country side, In Ireland, I feel that the most striking and memorable villages are the ones whose spaces are integrating and living with nature – a village of balance