The New Wave – The Coastline as a Resource for Landscape, Urbanism, and Tourism Renewal and Restoration in Nahariya

Nahariya has a glorious past as a leading resort destination in Israel, thanks to its coastline, which attracted many tourists who enjoyed relaxation and swimming in the sea every summer. However, since the 1970s, Nahariya has lost its status as a resort destination due to changes in the national and global tourism map and the security deterioration from Lebanon.
Today, Nahariya’s coastline serves as a linear urban park for the city’s residents. It has a promenade, beaches, a small marina, a few hotels and shops, and natural areas – the Ga’aton Stream and the Achziv Sea Reserve. Despite the presence of industry and a cemetery, and despite the lack of connectivity between its parts, between it and the city, and beyond it, Nahariya’s coastline is diverse and the most attractive part of the city, with significant potential.
My project proposes to realize the potential of Nahariya’s coastline as a basis for improving its status by renewing its landscape, urbanism, and tourism along its entire length. The coastal center of Nahariya, where the first beach was established, will become an active urban center by upgrading the beach and marina and strengthening commerce and hotels. The industrial area, which has encroached on the coast for years, will be restored and transformed into an active urban area, with new buildings and a beach, while integrating the existing coastal nature. The nature in the Achziv Marine Reserve will be protected from vehicles. The promenade along the coastline will be continuous and complete the vision of the Sea path as a national path, and its focal points will be linked to the streets leading from the coastline to the city.