Generative
Design
Project Name
Arad Housing
Sector
Residential Urban Planning
Location
Arad, Israel
Year
2024
Project Team
Abigail Benouaich
Yonah Odendal
Auerbach Halevy Architects
The Arad housing project is a thoughtfully planned community comprising 121 apartments on a
15,400 sqm site, positioned along the southern boundary of Arad's residential zone. This unique location allows for an urban design that both embraces and respects the striking desert landscape of the Negev Valley and vistas toward the Dead Sea
The development’s human-scale approach maintains building heights of only 3-4 floors, ensuring an intimate, locally oriented environment that harmonizes with the natural surroundings while enhancing the site’s panoramic views.
The design strategy centers on context-based urbanism, responding to the natural terrain by working with the southern land drop to create terraced structures that overlook the desert. Through a thoughtful arrangement of buildings, the project establishes connections to the Arad Heritage Trail and nearby cultural monuments, fostering a sense of place and community within the greater heritage landscape.
In further support of the regional character, the development emphasizes the use of local materials, including Arad Stone, and integrates a desert-inspired color palette, enabling the built environment to blend seamlessly with its surroundings.
Diversity in building typologies enhances the project’s adaptability to varied topographical conditions. The development comprises Stepped Housing, Compact Housing, and Crescent Housing typologies, each designed to leverage specific site features.
The architectural design employs flexible, tactile facades that adapt to the shifting terrain, while optimizing cut-and-fill strategies to reduce construction costs associated with underground parking. By prioritizing natural, gradual transitions, the project minimizes the use of retaining walls, contributing to a seamless integration with the landscape.
© Yonah Odendal
A housing framework that balances repetition and variation, shaping a contemporary interpretation of the urban townhouse typology.
Project developed at Auerbach Halevy Architects. Selected drawings and diagrams by Abigail Benouaich.
Some renders and schematic elements are based on original project materials.
© Yonah Odendal
Townhouse Typology
The architecture is defined by a restrained material palette and a clear structural rhythm. Facades are articulated through a system of recessed openings and layered surfaces, creating depth and variation while maintaining a coherent overall identity.
This approach reinforces both the individuality of each townhouse and the collective presence of the neighbourhood, balancing repetition with subtle differentiation.
Sustainability and climate responsiveness are core principles of the project. Dual-aspect apartments maximize cross-ventilation, while natural shading techniques create comfortable living spaces. The thermal mass of the Arad Stone provides passive cooling, ideal for the arid climate.
These design choices promote a high standard of living and contribute to a resilient, inclusive community.