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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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Ramot-E

Rick Meghiddo, Ruth Meghiddo, Meghiddo Architects, www.architectureawareness.com , www.rick-RE.com , www.naturaltowergarden.com , Yuval Cadmon, Beer Sheba, Israel, urban design

Ramot is a new neighborhood in the northern part of Beer Sheba. It was master planned by Israel’s Ministry of housing to contain 18,000 dwelling units. Its urban design was assigned to six teams of architects, each to be in charge of approximately 3,000 dwelling units. This subdivision included schools, parks, sports, commerce, synagogues, kindergartens and senior housing. We were commissioned one ot these sections, “Ramot-E.”

Following the conceptual development stage, which conceived a continuous central park as the spine of this hilly section, we were  joined by Yuval Cadmon Architects. Together we completed a design process that lasted a decade. The design is now statutory and the neighborhood will be built within the next years.

Urban Design – Perspective
Urban Design – Detail
Urban Design – Detail
Urban Design – Detail
Urban Design – General
Street Planning
Zoning

The planning has been conceived to mitigate traffic and speed. This is achieved by curving its streets and designing T-intersections. All schools are accessible through bike routes.

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5,000 Dwelling Unit Neighborhood

Rick Meghiddo, Ruth Meghiddo, Meghiddo Architects, www.architectureawareness.com , www.rick-RE.com , www.naturaltowergarden.com , First Prize, design competition, Israel, urban design, Ram Karmi, Bruno Zevi, L’Espresso

 

Conceptual Competition for the Design of a 5,000 Dwelling-Unit Neighborhood – First Prize for High Density

We conceived a 200-acre area with one-third of it devoted to parks. The neighborhood is seen as a totally pedestrian area, with distances not exceeding 15-minute walking from the center. The eccentricity of the linear center allows a better relationship between the new quarter, existing urban structures and future development. The through-traffic encircles the are without ever penetrating it. Parking structures are located along the freeway ring, which also serve as stations for a monorail and conveyors entering the neighborhood.

Perspective of the central area
Layout of neighborhood
Cross Section

High-density residences are located within the central space and medium-density residences extend out from this center. The towers fulfill urban functions such as offices, commerce, entertainment and hotels. The central space with public facilities and spaces is “shadowed” by penthouse-like condominiums with total flexibility of assemblage . Additional condominiums are located in higher floors.

The project is though to built with prefabricated components that are interchangeable.

 

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Spaces for People in 2010

Rick Meghiddo, Ruth Meghiddo, Meghiddo Architects, www.architectureawareness.com , www.rick-RE.com , www.naturaltowergarden.com , design competition

A conceptual design competition was launched in 1986 to envision “Spaces for People in the Year 2010.” The subject was free, to be presented on three tables. In foreseeing 24 years ahead we decided to deal with three top issues: the city, the oceans and outer-space.

We conceived three “horizontal skyscrapers.” Cityscraper was conceived to be a spine suspended above Wilshire Boulevard containing housing, offices and  moving systems. Its roof would have solar collectors and food-growing facilities. Oceanscraper would penetrate the Pacific at Santa Monica, would include a complex of functions under and above water level as well as turbines for the generation of wave energy. Spacescraper was conceived as a space station. Some of the inputs were humorous, such as turning Wilshire Boulevard into a park with flowing water and ways for elephant-riding and using air balloons as a mean of public transportation.

Cityscraper
Oceanscraper
Spacescraper
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