Arad Desert Streams Arad, 2018

The city of Arad is situated in the south of Israel on top of a mountain range overlooking the dramatic views of the Judean Desert, 25 km west of the Dead Sea. REED was invited to prepare a conservation masterplan for a vast desert terrain impacted by urban development and tourism. Our approach was based on the premise that by re-embracing the desert, and increasing the perceived value of the surrounding ecology it is possible to ensure long term environmental preservation.

​

The design calls for increasing the contrast between the built environment and the desert: restoring disturbed areas along the city’s periphery, and intensifying the verdant feeling of existing and new urban parks and streets.  A logistical route serving the city’s sewage system will be transformed into circular desert promenade, an opportunity  for enhancing physical and cognitive accessibility to/of the desert.