Naḥalah

Naḥalah \\ A Dialogue between Culture and Space Avigail Schechter and Hadas Levin The interrelationship between an allotment of land and the culture of the first settlers is reflected in the apportioning of the biblical land. The concept of an allotment of land—Naḥalah—embodies a dialogue between the tribal identity and the characteristics of the space. Its borders are, moreover, not only a physical demarcation but also an expression of belonging and relationship to the land. The definition of Naḥalah changes from period to period, as do the settlers. Each period produces a different division and relationship between the parcels and between individual and communal property. This idea is manifested in the planning of the Jerusalem Corridor—a space steeped in historical and architectural layers. The project examines the relationship between allotments of land and space in three communities identified with different cultures: Kibbutz Tsuba, the village of Ein Rafa, and Mevaseret Zion. The area between them is a culturally and historically stratified parcel of land. The project seeks a representation for these communities in this area and allows them to be its guardians. The planning of the border turns it into a living and connecting space, where each settlement looks out over its neighbor and all turn towards the heart of the Naḥalah.