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Urban Corridor Matrix

The Urban Corridor Matrix is the result of a research conducted over several years to look for an alternative way of conceiving mixed-use development. For details, watch video (9:31′)
 
We posed ourselves six goals:
1. To change the “Land use” concept into a Space Use concept
2. To create urban sustainability beyond LEED’s benchmarks
3. To make affordability possible
4. To prioritize pedestrians over cars
5. To make higher density synonymous of life quality
6. To develop an open system for future growth and change
 
Some of the features included are:

  • Open public spaces within the blocks
  • Bike routes
  • A mix of retail spaces
  • Institutional facilities above street level
  • Residential units of multiple types
  • Flexibility of use, size and building components
  • Time share of office module
  • Site specific art

Traversal Section
View including the public library
Central Perspective
Longitudinal Section of aHigh-Density Alternative
Detail of The Forum
Detail of The Court

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Housing for the Elderly

Rick Meghiddo, Ruth Meghiddo, Meghiddo Architects, www.architectureawareness.com , www.rick-RE.com , www.naturaltowergarden.com , senior housing, Jaffa, Israel, Long Beach,

We were commissioned by Israel’s Ministry of Housing to design 115 affordable housing units for seniors along one of Jaffa’s main arteries.

  • Alternative meeting places
  • Lobbies in every floor
  • A barrier-free building
  • Central solar water heating
  • Natural light and cross ventilation throughout
  • Interior built-in planting in all floors

 In 2000 the American Institute of Architects selected it as one of the best projects built by AIA members overseas.

Senior Housing, Jaffa
General Layout
Entrance Plaza
Community Center
Northern Elevation
Floor Lobbies – Exterior
Ground Level Plan
Interior public spaces
Ground Floor Lobby
Lobby
View from Third Floor Lobby
Community Center – Detail
Building Community Center
City Community Center
“The Windmill”

 

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Romano

The Romano residence is located on the northern part of Tel Aviv and sits on a small 3,500-foot lot. our client was a war veteran confined to a wheelchair for life. His basic requirements were two: to have an art studio in the basement and to be able to visualize the entire house from the master bedroom, where he was confined to  long periods of time.

The design concept was based on the creation of “a four-story high single space” that would allow a total perception of the house from any angle. A large skylight on the top and an open stairway (the house includes an elevator) made light penetration possible all the way down to the basement. The curving interior and exterior balconies facilitated movement with a wheelchair.

Exit to backyard
Detail
Living-Dining area
Interior balcony
Ascending the stairway
Stairway

 

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Bundy

This house sits in Brentwood, on a 3/4-acre key-lot. It’s 2,400 square feet relate to the exterior all around, most of it with a canyon view.The site conditions demanded a 200-foot long retaining wall, which was turned into a color-concrete artwork designed by Ruth Meghiddo.

For energy-conservation reasons, the house’s openings do not exceed 16% of the floor area. In order to emphasize the indoor-outdoor relationship, a “theme” was conceived to visually connect different areas of the property, from the gate to the main entrance to the fire place to some some portions of the retaining wall. An imaginary “lap pool” made out of blue pebbles from Indonesia’s ocean was also designed.

Entrance, wall details
Wall, floor plan, entrance
Rear yard with “pebbles pool”
Concrete wall detail
Poetry reading
Entrance
Rear yard
Meditation area
Detail
Living room
View from the kitchen

 

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