The Commons | Between Struggles of Control and Pluralism

In the recent decades, processes of appropriation and spatial exclusion have been occurring in Israel, driven by organized groups from Religious Zionism, particularly the ‘Garinim Toraniim’. These processes are reshaping the character of cities, including Tel Aviv, which has become a key target for them. These organizations, recognizing the openness and pluralism of secular society, are using these values to undermine its foundations. The secular awakening reached its peak during the recent Yom Kippur, when Dizengoff Square became a site of confrontation over gender segregation in public prayers. This event reflects the ongoing struggle over the nature of the public space in Tel Aviv and the desire to preserve the city’s open and democratic character.

This raises the question: How can Tel Aviv’s identity as a free, democratic, and pluralistic city be preserved while confronting fundamentalist processes in the public space?

The project aims to preserve the city’s secular character by strengthening and creating new centers of influence within the urban space. Its vision is to create a holistic system in central Tel Aviv, which integrates affordable housing, community functions, and public spaces that promote democracy, pluralism, and freedom. By mapping vacant brownfield sites in central Tel Aviv, a network of affordable housing is created, enabling cultural groups such as artists to remain in the city and establish strong communities, to serve as a counterforce to fundamentalist processes. In doing so, the project sets clear boundaries against processes of appropriation and spatial exclusion, and establishes a new agenda for developing a secular community in the city, while upholding the values of democracy and pluralism.