Cultural Cultivation

The towns of the Lower Galilee have historically flourished through their relationship with the agricultural landscape, particularly olive cultivation. The olive harvest season, shared across Arab villages and towns, reflects not only an economic activity but also a deeply rooted cultural and social tradition. Reineh, like other towns in the region, is characterized by this agricultural identity, where olive groves shape both the land and the rhythm of communal life.
Today, these communities struggle to find balance. On one hand, there is a pressing need to expand and densify in the face of economic and political restrictions, unregulated construction, land expropriation, and poor infrastructure management. On the other hand, the decline of agricultural practices threatens cultural identity, distancing future generations from the values embedded in their landscape. This raises a central question: how will the landscape evolve in the coming years? Will agricultural heritage remain integral to urban life, or will expansion override it?
This research takes Reineh as a case study, uncovering its layers of historical and cultural development while examining its typological features and the collective practice of olive harvest. Drawing on the current situation of the Lower Galilee’s landscape, the project highlights the importance of reinterpreting agricultural identity within the context of urban growth.
It seeks to foster a dynamic relationship between the ecological and built layers of Reineh, creating “threshold spaces” where interaction, negotiation, and shared responsibility shape urban life. This approach prompts the question: what planning strategies can effectively balance the integration of urban typologies in Arab towns while preserving and strengthening the rural and agricultural landscape as commons?
Grounded in Lefebvre’s assertion that “space is not a mere container but a product of social relations and practices,” the project calls for an adaptable urban form—one that avoids rigid structures and instead allows for continuous reinterpretation and reappropriation by its inhabitants. By integrating ecological and built elements, the town can cultivate a shared environment that is both inclusive and resilient.
Such integration preserves the agricultural heritage of olive groves while embedding them within urban life, enabling households to remain connected to the land while benefiting from development. This framework strengthens cultural identity, supports local economies, and promotes ecological sustainability. In doing so, Reineh can serve as a model for towns in the Lower Galilee, where growth is achieved not at the expense of heritage but through its reinforcement.