Safe in Nature | Creating and Making Natural and Safe Healing Spaces

The State of Israel, since its establishment, has been dealing with continuous security threats. For more than 15 years, the residents of Ashdod have been experiencing alarms, rocket launches, and security threats that dictate daily life in the city. Despite this reality, Ashdod’s master plan does not include a direct reference to emergency situations and their implications on public spaces and access to urban nature. The current situation leads to people ensconcing themselves inside their homes, which increases feelings of anxiety, as there are no protected alternatives for going out into natural spaces during emergencies.

The proposed project is based on a deep understanding of the physical and mental healing capabilities that natural spaces provide. Its central goal is to create accessible protected therapeutic spaces within the city, which will serve as spaces of calm and support for residents during emergencies, and aid in psychological recovery afterward. The planning includes solutions to this issue and a holistic approach, spanning from an urban scale to a neighborhood scale, aiming to ensure safe movement and a pleasant stay in nature even under security threats.

The plan proposes the “Safe Path,” which combines security with nature therapy across the city. This path provides residents with a solution to the issue and enables them to move safely with access to protected areas, while offering a varied nature experience, even during a security threat, without ‘bunkering’ the city (i.e., spreading shelters with a disturbing appearance throughout the city). Additionally, the project proposes renewing and improving public green spaces while integrating local nature. Thus, therapeutic nature is made accessible throughout the city and embedded into the urban fabric, supporting residents both during routine times and in emergencies.