From Shore to City: Redefining Haifa’s Shoreline

Global warming is a phenomenon whose severity is increasing in recent years and presenting us with numerous challenges; one of these is causing sea levels to rise, potentially by up to 2.1 meters by the year 2100. This threatens coastal cities in extreme weather events, leading to shoreline erosion, habitat loss, and damage to shoreline fabrics.

This project addresses the critical challenge of sea level rise, focusing on the coastal city of Haifa. Haifa’s low-lying and varied shoreline, which includes residential areas, promenades, industrial zones, an estuary and a marina, is at high risk due to the rising sea level. Currently, the city’s fragmented shoreline exacerbates the anticipated damaged resulting from climate change.

The project proposes a holistic strategic design strategy that connects Haifa’s shoreline through a continuous promenade, serving not only as a physical link along the coastline, but also functioning as resilient line of defense tailored to respond to the diverse conditions found along the shoreline. By integrating a combination of coping and defense strategies, the design aims to mitigate the effects of sea level rise, while introducing a range of activities that enhance the waterfront’s value.

The two areas of focus are the neighborhood of Kiryat Hayim, northern Haifa: A low-lying residential neighborhood that is greatly affected by flooding and storms at sea; the rise in sea level will only exacerbate the challenge. Here, a shoreline park is planned, comprising three layers. The first is intended to respond to flooding caused by storms at sea; the second will deal with flooding caused by rain falling on the city itself; and the third and last level includes commercial space and new, elevated construction. Various multi-use protective means are incorporated into the park, including restoration of existing dunes, flood zones and rain-fed gardens.

Another area of focus is the river-sea meeting point – the lower Kishon park, which is an ecological landscape area. It is characterized by a variety of species at risk of extinction and salt flats with high ecological value, and is threatened by the rising sea level. Here, the project proposes dynamic ecology, with emphasis placed on preserving the existing salt flats and leveraging their ecological value, reconstructing the abandoned salt flats at the site in different sizes and on different levels, making the area of the marina more inviting, and benefitting to the fullest from the site’s unique potential.

Through these interventions, the project strives to improve accessibility to Haifa’s coastline and protect it, and increase its resilience to rising sea levels.