Gan Lebanim

"Yad Lebanim" (Fallen Sons' Commemoration) memorial homes are a building typology unique to modern Israeli architecture. These programmatic hybrids, teaming a military memorial hall with a civic community center reflect a constant dualism in Israeli Society, struggling to exist between the extremes of past and present, war and peace, sacred and profane.

Ramat Yishay, a community in the north of Israel is experiencing a shortage of parks, gardens and open public space. The 2.5 hectare site situated in the entrance to Ramat Yishay, gives the opportunity to answer this need, while creating a building that emblemizes local values. Within this context, it seemed wasteful to construct an isolated monument. Rather, it was decided that the entire site shall be developed as a municipal park, not merely incorporating the Yad Lebanim home, but blending it into the park-scape, thus blurring distinctions between indoors and outdoors, building and landscape, sacred and profane...

The result is a flexible, multi functional complex, combining a park with a library, educational facilities, a municipal assembly courtyard and a rooftop promenade. The variety of complementary public spaces offered, permits the occurrence of both organized and spontaneous events of different scales, from urban assemblies to friendly encounters. The interior spaces can be combined or divided, while the complex itself can function in various capacities, with the different buildings functioning independently. Building materials are simple, affordable and robust. The rooftop is planted with local plant varieties that demand little to no maintenance and irrigation.