In answer to the problem of utilizing otherwise misused inner city spaces, AL/Arch have put forward their project, ‘the REAL estate” - the creation of an alternative public space in the densely populated city of Bat-Yam in Israel. The 550 sq.m. outdoor ‘room’ is situated in a vertical public park between where a housing estate ends and a high wall, beyond which is a motorway. In general, this type of space is dumping ground for unused objects and trash, an unsanitary area to be avoided.
The found objects on the site formed the inspiration for the architects both in terms of material used in the construction of their project and as a design concept. The new public space is a bright welcoming experience for the public, the non solid facade with its bright pink neon sign stating, ‘the REAL estate’, emphasizes the validity of the public ‘room’, which is in sharp contrast with the previously unwelcoming environment.
A stretch of fabric formed concrete reaches out from the gate to the wall in an upward slope, providing an imaginative playground, enhanced by the cut out shapes lined with wood, providing further points of interest and opportunities for games. The movement of urban regeneration and landscaping is a cause championed by AL/Arch as a way to improve the lives of inner city dwellers and this brilliant alternative public space is an excellent move in this direction.
