Around Ono Valley

In recent years, the Tel Aviv Metropolitan area has undergone accelerated urbanization, leading to significant pressure on urban space and a gradual encroachment into rural and suburban areas. This trend has fragmented and divided open space systems and pushed the margins of built-up areas. The large-scale transformation of natural land into impermeable surfaces has dramatically disrupted hydrological balance. Projections indicate that by 2050, Israel will be one of the most densely populated countries in the Western world.
The project focuses on the Ono Valley, a transitional zone between the Tel Aviv and Central Districts, near Ben-Gurion Airport. The valley serves as a suburban hinterland, combining agriculture, suburbs, and dense development. Given its location between an urban core and open spaces, it is at the center of intensive urban growth. The Ono Valley is a clear example of urban sprawl that blurs suburban boundaries, making the space uniform and dense. This process leads to the loss of landscape continuity, local identity, and environmental values.
The project “Around Ono Valley” proposes a sequence of sustainable landscapes along the Ono Valley through a system of green rings that penetrate the urban fabric. The system rests on three central aspects: mobility, landscape-ecology, and social aspects. The peripheral ring system connects open spaces and metropolitan centers, creating a holistic network for pedestrians and cyclists. At the same time, inner rings act as bridging systems within the urban fabrics, promoting soft mobility and reducing dependence on private cars. The integration of systems creates a continuous network that contributes to urban resilience, accessibility, quality of life, and the preservation of the ecological continuum in dense environments. The plan also includes restoration actions in damaged segments, where the Ono River constitutes a neglected urban-natural corridor. As part of the project, the river will undergo a landscape rehabilitation process and become an active urban spine, supporting public uses. Its integration within the overall green belt will strengthen its function as an integral component of the Ono Valley system.