Safe Public Space | Healing in Routine – Security in Emergencies
Following the events of October 7th, we are witnessing a significant increase in the number of Israelis coping with mental distress. The rates of dealing with this anguish are particularly high in areas affected by security threats. The city of Ashkelon is located a few kilometers from a hostile border; therefore, the city is particularly vulnerable to an increase in the number of residents dealing with mental distress.
The mental struggle experienced by the residents of Ashkelon at a time of security threat emphasizes the need to act immediately to meet their mental health needs. One of the ways of coping is therapy through nature. “Nature therapy” is a therapeutic approach that includes connecting with nature to enhance mental and emotional wellbeing. The approach recognizes the mutual relationship between man and the natural world, and highlights the therapeutic benefits of activities in nature such as gardening, strolling, or even just spending time in a natural environment.
The project offers a dual-purpose plan for planning the open spaces in Ashkelon, with the aim of providing spaces for leisure and therapy in routine, and safe spaces in times of a security threat. In routine, all the open spaces in the city will be active and will fulfill the needs of the city’s residents for recreation and healing in the great outdoors. In the event of a security threat, the open spaces adjacent to the residents’ homes will serve as the main activity areas, providing a sense of security thanks to the proximity to the home and the safe space, and will thus also enable community involvement and support.
For the purpose of illustrating the vision, the Afridar neighborhood is taken as an example – one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, which borders the seashore to the west and is an example of a unique building style on a human scale. The proposed plan makes the beach, which is a space of recreation and healing, accessible to residents through the central and linear park that crosses the neighborhood and serves as a safe public space for its patrons.
החוצה את השכונה ומשמש את מבליו כמרחב ציבורי מוגן.
