Rehovot Community Center in Israel by Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Article source: Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Creating a new urban plaza, the project includes studios for dance, music, sports and a library. Completed in 2016.

The community center includes a variety of spaces, such as an arts and crafts workshop, music rooms, dance studios, martial-arts studios, a multi-purpose hall and a ‘youth wing’. Next to the main building is a library, which operates as a multi-media center, attracting visitors of all ages for a variety of activities. The two buildings are designed to operate together and separately.

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

• Architects: Kimmel Eshkolot architects
• Project: Rehovot Community Center
• Location: Rehovot, Israel

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

The project is built in a new neighbourhood in the city of Rehovot, called New Rehovot, which is an area in development stages. The site is located in the center of the neighbourhood which is designated for public buildings; some of which have already been built, such as an elementary school and a sports-center. Tall residential buildings are yet to be built in the area.
Since the scale of the urban scale in this area is quite big, we wanted the buildings to introduce an urban-friendly scale, meaning that not only the users will enjoy the inner piazza within the project, but also pedestrians would take the short-cut and stroll through the project while going somewhere else. This idea was one of the generators of the design, and led to planning of the two buildings around a protected courtyard, which also connects between the school on its east side and the sports-center to its north.

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

The main building has two floors, where the upper floor is hovering over the ground floor providing shading from the hot summer sun. It is also designed in a way that exposes the activities, such as the dance studios, in order to attract people to come and participate. The library is designed around a wall of books, which also projects to the facades. Its roof serves as a terrace which provides a separate access to the youth wing through a small bridge. The stairs climbing to the roof include seating areas, creating an intimate amphitheatre space for small outdoor performances.

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Sustainability is of major importance in the project. The facades are treated with shading elements of bamboo profiles, and the courtyard is partly shaded throughout the year, while also being protected from street noise. The building is fully accessible to people with disabilities.
The community center was funded by Keren Hayesod Switzerland, under Chairman Sami Bollag. The library was funded by Mifal Ha payis.

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot architects

Tags: Israel, Rehovot

Categories: Art Center, Art Studio, Library, Plaza, Studio

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