Blurred Boundries

++Analytic scales
Investigations of existing settlements in Israel led to the exploration of an ideal community settlement configuration. In a community settlement, all settlers are expected to participate in maintaining municipal services (gardening, roads, garbage, water), welfare services (education, health, relief), cultural, social and entertainment activities. They are also responsible for sustaining and improving economic opportunities within the settlement and the general preservation of the settlement.
The ideal arrangement for a settlement is a circle, where the public functions are located in the center. The ideal location is on a hilltop to increase surveillance and prevent surprise attacks. The housing, usually identical small roofed homes, are then built around the public center and down the hill in a ring formation. The rings of housing are connected by roadways.
The circular shape of the settlement is able to dissolve into a non-circular configuration as the settlement expands. Ultimately, site specific factors determine the formation of the settlement. Clusters of housing, which are linked by circulation paths, are created around public buildings.
The location of the settlements, on hilltops provide them with opportune view corridors. As a group of settlements, they are organized to create a “buffer zone” to ward off future attacks.

++Modular housing
The module layout is completely compatible to the individual user. They are laid out in such a way that the plumbing for the kitchen and bathroom are located in a shared area. This means that as a module it will shift direction completely. The relationship of the house to its surroundings can be engaged by sliding wall elements that create apertures for windows and solid masses as walls. By leaving the modules this dynamic they are quite customizable to the user. With the possibility of movable partitions forming the apertures of the building the modules can begin to be linked to others for multiple family dwellings. There is also the ability to make a structure as light and transparent or as heavy and enclosed as the user demands.

++Ein-Hud development
Our proposal is to develop Ein Hud by implementing models of introverted and extraverted self- sustainable clusters, which can then replicated and spread, creating a self-sustainable settlement. The introverted clusters promote a sense of security for the settlers within. The extraverted clusters are more inviting and open, and contain services that all settlers need access to, such as the city hall and medical center. The configuration of the housing in extraverted clusters protect the public centers.
The intersection of introverted and extraverted clusters ensure that a sense of community still exists within the settlement.

Introverted : to turn inward or in upon itself; to concentrate or direct upon oneself
Extraverted : Marked by interest in and behavior directed toward others or the environment as opposed to or to the exclusion of self

As opposed to having a settlement based off of a single centralized public space and expanding in a bull’s-eye array, the intersection of several clusters containing public space and housing create interlocking program as the settlement expands. This gives a mixing of ideas, products, and services to a cluster that they might not already have.
The clusters are generated in a circular pattern outward rather than inward, ensuring a view for each home, and allowing the ability for the cluster to grow and interact with surrounding clusters.
Each cluster is capable of being self-sustaining so when one area of the settlement deteriorates from either internal or external influences, the rest of the settlement is not affected. As a network of clusters, the settlement becomes stronger. To promote interaction between settlers in each clusters, not all clusters contain the same program. One cluster has something to offerthe other.

All clusters Some clusters
community center school
public market kindergarten
open (green) spaces religious center
parking agriculture
medical center
city hall

++Ein-Hud / Ein-Hod link
The settlements of Ein Hod and Ein Hud can be split into clusters which contain a public center. This center is comprised of a community center, marketplace, or a function unique to its own neighborhood. The centers hold the community together and allow for assemblies, meetings, and promotion of community camaraderie. The two settlements are very separate in their actions towards one another. The expectation is that id one starts to be informed by the other and more connections between the clusters occur, then there will be a connection in a seamless fashion. With the integration of overlapping program we could see the settlements combining together in a harmonious joined community. This would be a place not only influenced by the two settlements but by many visitors from all over the world. As it can be seen the spaces on the two hilltops remain completely involved in their on community’s functions, although as the clus- ters grow down into the valley they start to embody characteristics/lifestyles of the opposing community. This would be an area where Palestinians might learn the use of the cypress tree and the Israeli settlement, the use of the olive tree.