YULIA SHLOMENZON

"The memory goes along the streets in front of him, and each street is a vertiginous experience. Each leads downward, if not to the Mothers, then at least to a past that is all the more spellbinding as it is not just the author’s own private past.  As he walks, his steps create an astounding resonance on the asphalt. The gaslight shining down on the pavement casts an ambiguous light on this double floor. The city as a mnemonic for the lonely walker: it conjures up more than his childhood and youth, more than its own history״

-Walter Benjamin

Upon our exploration of the city of Tiberias, we discovered places that maintain the unique spirit of the place. We wanted to revive those places by creating a city space which stimulates the inhabitants to search for additional secrets related to the myth and history of the city. A space which stimulates and encourages the activity of walking and strolling and thus creating an enigmatic discovery of the city.
As can be interpreted from Walter Benjamin, a philosopher from the beginning of the 20th century, the activity of Strolling is the antithesis of a tourist. By strolling the person walks through the city without a goal or a destination, with the streets are leading the stroller. The stroller reveals the unconscious parts of the city and by then engraves his mind in the spirit of the place. 

Our vision for the city of Tiberias focuses on spaces that allow the city's exploration. The Tiberius stroller can be anyone, be it a passerby visitor who enters the city and  is being intrigued by the space, or a resident of the city who sets off to his regular way.
To illustrate the vision of our design we have created a main gate to the city - the Central Station. From this location begins the walking and strolling through pleasant roads, public and cultural spaces which intrigue and arouse the curiosity of the pedestrian.
The phenomenon of urban strolling can be empowered through the creation of openings and structures - INFILLS - throughout the city, which create public disturbances, stimulating, creating curiosity and thus affecting the stroller' movement in the city.
In addition, there is a restoration of the sense of ownership of the resident on its urban space through spatial urban games, mazes, undesignated spaces for the common good and the use of public spaces for protests, random encounters, fairs and other urban activities with lively and active spirit

Project team:

Liron Kadi & Maria Sorokin