Between the Home and the Fields

In recent years, many moshavot (cooperative agricultural communities) in Israel have undergone rapid densification, threatening their unique character. These processes are often driven by a uniform, national planning approach that fails to distinguish between a city and a moshav, leading to planning standards that are disconnected from local reality. This raises the question of how to preserve these communities’ rural identity while still allowing necessary development and densification.
The struggle for the future of the moshavot is a fight for identity, culture, and way of life. By using sensitive and local planning, it’s possible to balance development with the preservation of the place’s spirit. This requires a planning policy different from the standard urban model. A gradual, local approach can allow for densification without erasing the place’s core characteristics, as long as its key spatial values are maintained.
The key spatial elements for preserving a moshava’s character can be seen in how moshava life is portrayed in art, such as poetry and song. For example, songs about moshavot’s landscapes often highlight the connection between homes and fields, nature, and inviting public spaces that foster a sense of community. As seen in Ehud Manor’s songs about Binyamina, moshavot are more than just physical places; they are memories, a sense of belonging, and a way of life.
My project focused on Binyamina, the moshava where I grew up, and proposed an alternative planning model for new neighborhoods. These neighborhoods would be located in agricultural areas beyond the moshava’s current built boundaries. The design aims to preserve rural values by incorporating spaces for play and community, alongside rooftop agriculture. The planning simulates a natural topography, with ground-floor play areas between buildings, scattered open public spaces, and slow internal movement with no private cars. The result is a welcoming space that maintains the moshav’s rural feel, even within a new, denser fabric.