Lombardo, Samplawski and Flynn

At the largest scale, we used the existing rail lines to connect the Palestinian villages in order to provide the communities with two imperative means. Such mechanisms constitute access to resources and freedom of movement. The community village of Ein Hud will become the tether in the overlapping web of these two matrices. The proposed central positioning of the rail terminal also acts as a womb that sustains a sense of security from any outside attack. Due to its valley location the station maintains a panoptical reference point relative to the hillside communities and in turn such communities become watchful eyes of protection. The station also becomes an axis for community relations between Palestinians and Israelis through its multicultural program. The intermediary regions between juxtaposed community settlements become commercial centers, schools and medical facilities.

The concept of impermanence was integral to our solution of creating family housing due to its emphasis on the necessity of movement as well as quick and easy construction. This notion stemmed from the current structures and situations of community settlements. A community settlement branches off from an urban or other large settlement to which its inhabitants commute. Such ancillary settlements are not legal, but are permitted on the basis that they are devised as well as perceived in a transient way.

In our scheme, we are hallmarking on this idea of quick construction and visual reaffirmation of mobile qualities. This will allow the Arab population to occupy the space without much opposition. Using a modular system which can be built off site and erected on the site within a relatively short period of time is our core strategy. If a settlement can be created within a matter of days it would in turn give the impression that it can be taken down and moved in a similar amount of time.

Using modular systems does not imply that each unit will appear to look like trailers or trailer-like homes. New technologies as well as design innovations have allowed these homes to take on a more formal living quality. Such units now can constitute larger and more comfortable living spaces that can be qualitatively compared to a regular built home. Systems of stacking, or connecting these homes can result in even more options. However, stacking has a more structural quality that we are trying to avoid.

These homes can be self sustaining by using either wind turbines or solar panels for electric gains. If solar panels are used, the orientations of the homes become more of a design issue than if turbines are used. Both systems have their pros and cons; however, wind speeds as well as cost are the primary driving factors in making the decision on which to use. These homes can be cooled either by standard air conditioning or by evaporative cooling methods. The sizes of the settlements are deciding factors in whether or not evaporative cooling systems are the most efficient way to cool the homes.

Water is also an important issue, considering that there are not many good sources of fresh water in Israel nor underground waterways that enter the vicinity of Ein Hud. Using desalinization plants for larger settlements may be an option, from which smaller settlements can be provided for. Circulation is also a major issue especially in the case of the automobiles, but also at the scale of the pedestrian. It is important to create a logical connection between the main settlement and each community settlement. Ease of construction and security are also considered when circulation is planned due to the fact that trucks must be able to enter and people must be able to come and go freely. However, it is also logical that the settlement be devised in such a way that it can isolate itself if the need arises.

The orientations of each of the housing modules are based on purpose and connection to the rest of the settlement. A “T” shaped orientation, for example, creates a connection between three modules. Such an organization can be classified as two sleeping and living areas which are conjoined by a service zone. This will reduce cost as well as promote social interaction. A “U” setup can create a more privatized space in between the modules. Depending on how these setups are interconnected, many different shared private spaces can be created which help cluster people into small ‘neighborhoods’ while preserving an open circulation.

Also, we utilized local materials such as different woods and stones and even gypsum. Such materials can be manufactured domestically to create these modules. If the people can make their own homes in their country, they will be able to save on cost.

In conclusion, we developed sustainable community settlements that branch off of the civic area surrounding the rail station. Our reasoning for the location was primarily based on circulation as well as control, viability and connection. The individual community settlements are also based on circulation and connection as well as temporality, ease of construction, sustainability and affordability.