2. *
Merhav โ Movement for Israeli Urbanism (MIU) is a registered non-profit
organization which includes members from the private sector, government
offices and other NGOs.
Merhav promotes:
Urban environments based on people centric public spaces.
Quality urban environments that enable access by a variety of transit
options.
โซโ ืืชื ืืขื ืืขืืจืื ืืืช ืืชืืืฉืช ืืืฉืจืื ืืื ืขืืืชื ืจืฉืืื ืืืื ื ืืืืโฌ
*
โซืืจืืโฌ
.โซืืืชืจ ื-005 ืืืจืื ืืืืืืจ ืืคืจืื, ืืืืืจ ืืฆืืืืจื ืืขืืืชืืช ืืืจืืื ืื ืืืจืืโฌ
: โซืืจืื ืืงืืืชโฌ
.โซืกืืืื ืขืืจืื ืืช ืืืืืกืกืช ืขื ืืจืื ืฆืืืืจื ืฉืืืื ืืืจืืืโฌ
.โซืกืืืื ืืืืืชืืช ืืืืคืฉืจืช ื ืืืฉืืช ืขื ืืืืื ืืืฆืขื ืชืืืืจืโฌ
Quality urban environments that are compact, vibrant, provide many โซืกืืืื ืงืืืคืงืืืช, ืืื ืื ืกืืืืช, ืืจืืืช ืฉืืืืฉืื ืืืืืื ืืืืช. ืกืืืื ืขืืจืื ืืชโฌ
opportunities and potential uses, and are designed with respect to the โซืืืชืืื ื ืช ืืชืื ืืืื ืืชืจืืืช, ืืงืืืื, ืืืงืืื ืืื ืืฃ ืืงืืืโฌ
local community, culture the environment and landscape.
We believe that the city is the solution we can transform the quality of urban life โซืื ื ืืืืื ืื ืื ืืขืืจ ืืื ืืคืชืจืื ืื ืืชื ืืืฆืืจ ืฉืื ืื ืืืืชื ืืืืืืช ืืืืื ืืขืืจืื ืืชโฌ
in Israel by applying: People-oriented planning that prevents deterioration and โซืืืฉืจืื ืขื ืืื ืืืฉืื : ืชืื ืื ืืืืื ื ืืืื ืข ื ืืืื ืืืื ืื ืืขืจืื, ืคืืชืื ืืงืืื ืขืชืืจโฌ
atrophy of cities , Sustainable local development that enhances opportunities, .โซืืืืื ืืืืช ืืืจ ืงืืืื, ืชืืืืื ืชืื ืื ืืืืงืจืืืื ืืืฉืชืคืื ืืช ืื ืืขืื ืืขื ืืืโฌ
Democratic urban planning processes that embrace all stakeholders
Merhav is the only organization that focuses on changing the urban built โซืืจืื ืืื ืืืจืืื ืืืืื ืืืฉืจืื ืืืชืืงื ืืกืืืื ืืขืืจืื ืืช ืืื ืืื ืืคืืขื ืืคืืชืืโฌ
environment, and strives to develop the necessary policies and professional .โซืืืืื ืืืช ืืืืืื ืืืงืฆืืขืืื ืื ืืืฆืื ืืืฆืืจืช ืืฉืื ืืโฌ
tools for making this transformation.
Merhav employs a holistic planning approach which addresses physical, โซืืจืื ืคืืขืืช ืืชืื ืืืฉืช ืชืื ืื ืืืืื ืืช ืืืชืืืืกืช ืืืืืืื ืืคืืืืื, ืืืืืืืืโฌ
economic, and social aspects of city life in order to achieve lasting change. .โซืืืืืจืชืืื ืฉื ืืืืื ืืขืืจืื ืืื ืขื ืื ืช ืืืฉืื ืฉืื ืื ืืจ ืงืืืืโฌ
3. 1
Streets are for People: People are drawn to the
city because of its capacity to serve as a large pool of contacts with
other people. Contacts that generate opportunity โ social, economic and
cultural. Such contacts are found primarily in public space, of which the
urban street is the most basic component. To fulfill its function as a public
space and a meeting place, the street must be inviting to pedestrians; it
โซืื ืฉืื ื ืืฉืืื ืื ืืขืืจ ืืฉื ืืืืืชื ืืฉืืฉ ืืืืจโฌ :โซืจืืืืืช ืืื ืฉืืโฌ 1
.โซืืืื ืืงืฉืจืื ืขื ืื ืฉืื ืืืจืื ืืืืืืื ืืืืื ืืืืช - ืืืจืชืืืช, ืขืกืงืืืช ืืชืจืืืชืืืชโฌ
โซืงืฉืจืื ืืื ื ืืฆืจืื ืืขืืงืจ ืืืจืื ืืฆืืืืจื ืฉืืจืืื ืืขืืจืื ื ืืื ืืจืืืื ืืืกืืื. ืืืโฌ
,โซืืืื ืืช ืชืคืงืืื ืืืจืื ืฆืืืืจื ืืืงืื ืืคืืฉ ืขื ืืจืืื ืืืืืช ืืืืื ืืืืืื ืจืื: ื ืืโฌ
.โซืืืื ืืืขื ืืืโฌ
must be comfortable, safe and interesting.
4. 2 A dense and continuous network
of streets, with an average distance of 60-150 meters
between junctions. This arrangement: a) Offers easy access
for everyone and a variety of movement options for pedestrians,
bicycles, public transport and private vehicles; b) Provides
broad exposure for businesses and personal opportunity;
โซืืืฉืจ ืืืจืืงโฌ ,โซืจืฉืช ืจืฆืืคื ืืฆืคืืคื ืฉื ืจืืืืืชโฌ
โซืืืืืฆืข ืืื ืฆืืชืื 06-051 ืโ, ืืืคืฉืจืช: ื. ื ืืืฉืืช ื ืืื ืืืืื ืขื ืืืืืโฌ
2
.โซืืคืฉืจืืืืช ืชื ืืขื ืจืืืช ืืืืืื ืจืื, ืืืคื ืืื, ืชืืืืจื ืฆืืืืจืืช ืืจืื ืคืจืื; ืโฌ
โซืืฉืืคื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืขืกืงืื ืืืืืืื ืืืืช ืืื ืฉืื; ื. ืืงืื ืช ืืืืฉ ืืชืืืืจืโฌ
;โซืืจืืืืืช ืืจืืฉืืื; ื. ืชืืจืืช ืืืืืืืช ืขื ืืื ืืืืช ืืืืจืืช ืื ืกืืขืโฌ
โซื. ืืืคืฉืจืช ืืืืฉืืช ืืชืคืชืืืชืืช ืืืืืงืช ืืืจืื ืืืืงืืช ืืืชืืืืืช ืืฆืจืืืโฌ
c) Promises a reduction of traffic congestion on main roads; .โซืืืฉืชื ืื ืฉื ืืขืืจโฌ
d) Contributes to safety by reducing vehicle speeds; e) Allows for
developmental flexibility in the division of the space into parcels that
match the cityโs changing needs.
San Francisco
Copenhagen
Barcelona
New York
London
Rome
Paris
5. 3
Mixed uses: by creating a variety of places in which people
choose to spend time, these ensure a) the continual presence in the
cityโs streets of different people, who come there at various times of day
for a variety of purposes; b) The presence of many different people in the
streets at nearly all hours increases everyoneโs personal safety; c) Mixed
uses also reduce the need for travel and the dependence on the use of
โซืืืืืืื: ื. ื ืืืืืช ืฉื ืื ืฉืื ืฉืื ืื, ืืืื ืืโฌ โซืฉืืืืฉืื ืืขืืจืืืโฌ 3
;โซืฉืื ืื, ืืืืจืืช ืฉืื ืืช ืืจืืืืืช ืืขืืจ, ืืืืฆืจืื ืืงืืืืช ืฉืื ืฉืื ืืืืจืื ืืฉืืืช ืืืโฌ
โซื. ื ืืืืืชื ืฉื ืื ืฉืื ืจืืื ืืฉืื ืื ืืจืืื ืืจืื ืฉืขืืช ืืืืื ืืืืืจื ืืช ืืืืืืโฌ
.โซืืืืฉื; ื. ืืงืื ืช ืืฆืืจื ืื ืกืืขืืช ืืฆืืฆืื ืืชืืืช ืืจืื ืืคืจืืโฌ
โซืืฉ ืืืื ืข ืืืืืง ืืช ืืขืืจ ืืืืืจืื ืืขืื ืืืคืืื ืื ืืืืืื ืืืื: ืืืืจ ืชืขืฉืืื ืืโฌ
.โซืงืจืืืช ืืื ืืโฌ
private vehicles.
It is best to avoid dividing the city into homogenous areas like purely
industrial or purely educational zones.
6. 4
Density and efficient land use: opulation
density is a vital component of good urbanism. It facilitates: a) the
provision of high quality services for residents; b) a high standard public
transport system; c) opportunity for successful business ventures in
city streets; d) peoplesโ capacity to provide for their daily needs within
walking distance of their homes.
โซืฆืคืืคืืช ืขืืจืื ืืช ืืฆืืืืจืืช ืืืโฌ :โซืฆืคืืคืืช ืืฉืืืืฉ ืืขืื ืืงืจืงืขโฌ 4
.โซืืจืืื ืืืจืื ืฉื ืขืืจืื ืืืช ืืืื ืืืืคืฉืจืช ืืกืคืง: ื. ืฉืืจืืชืื ืืืืืชืืื ืืชืืฉืืื; ืโฌ
.โซืชืืืืจื ืฆืืืืจืืช ืืืืืชืืช; ื. ืืืฆืืจ ืืช ืืืืืื ืืืืช ืืืฆืืืชื ืฉื ืืกืืจ ืืจืืืืืช; ืโฌ
.โซืืืคืฉืจ ืืื ืฉืื ืืกืคืง ืืช ืฆืจืื ืืืืืืื ืฉืืื ืืืจืืง ืืืืื ืืืืชืโฌ
,โซืฆืคืืคืืช ืขืืจืื ืืช ืืืคืฉืจืช ืจืืืืืช ืขืืจืื ืืื ืชืืกืกืื ืืืืฆืื ืืืืืื ืืืืช ืืืืืืืืชโฌ
โซืืืืจืชืืืช ืืืชืจืืืชืืืช ืืฉืจ ืืืืื ืื ืฉืื ื ืืฉืืื. ืืชืืช ืืฆืคืืคืืช ืืื ืืืืืืช ืืโฌ
Urban density makes for vibrant city streets and takes advantage of .โซืืืืื ืืืชืงืืื ืขืืจ ืืื ืคืจืืจ ืืชืืื ืืจืื ืคืจืืโฌ
the economic, social and cultural opportunities to which people are โซืืฉ ืืืื ืข ืืืคืืชืื ืฉื ืืจืืืช ืืขืืจ ืืื ืืชืช ืืขื ื ืืืืงืืฉืื ืืืืืจืื ืืชืขืกืืงื ืชืืโฌ
attracted. Below a certain density urbanism cannot exist, becoming rather .โซื ืืฆืื ืงืจืงืข ืงืืืืช ืฉืืื ื ื ืืฉืืืืฉ ืืขืื ืืชืื ืืขืืจโฌ
a suburban life dependent on travel by private vehicle.
It is therefore important to resist the temptation to meet the demand for
new housing and employment by expanding the city limits, but rather to
utilize existing urban land that is not being used efficiently.
7. 5
Diverse populations: Human diversity is part of the
cityโs strength. The presence in the city of people who differ from one
another is the force that generates economic and cultural opportunity.
Separate zones for homogenous populations do not allow the diversity of
opportunity necessary for the maintenance of a good city. Homogenous
areas that are developed all at once tend to age and decay all at once too.
โซืืืืืื ืืื ืืฉื ืืื ืืืง ืืขืืฆืืชื ืฉื ืืขืืจ. ืื ืืืืืชโฌ 5
:โซืฉืืืื ืืืืืืกืืืชโฌ
โ .โซืฉื ืื ืฉืื ืฉืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืขืืจ ืืื ืืืื ืืืืฆืจ ืืืืื ืืืืช ืืืืืืืช ืืชืจืืืชืืืชโฌ
โซืืฉ ืฆืืจื ืืืืืจ ืืืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืช ืืืื ืื, ืืื ืืืื ืื, ืืืื, ืืืงืื, ืืืืืจืืืืืช ืฉืโฌ
โซืืืื ืื ืืืืืจืืช ืืื ืืืฉืื ืืืืคืฉืจ ืืืืจ ืฉื ืืืืืืกืืื ืืืืื ืช. ืืืืจ ืืจ-ืืฉืื ืฆืจืืโฌ
.โซืืืืืช ืืืืืจ ืืืืืืช ืืืง ืืื ืืืจืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืืขืืจโฌ
A city needs housing that is diverse in the buildingsโ construction, their
age, size, position and architecture (including both the outside structure
and the apartments inside it) if it is to draw in a diverse population and
allow it to stay. Affordable housing must not be concentrated and isolated,
but broadly distributed and integrated into every part of the city.
8. 6
A range of transit opportunities: Access
to services and employment is a key part of the individualโs wellbeing. The
city must provide a range of high quality, readily available and comfortable
modes of transport for everyone, to ensure its continued existence and
prosperity. Cultivating the public space of the streets, implementing an
intelligent parking policy and planning urban focal points around
โซื ืืืฉืืช ืืฉืืจืืชืื ืืชืขืกืืงื ืืืโฌ :โซืืืืื ืฉื ืืคืฉืจืืืืช ืชืืืืจืโฌ 6
,โซืืจืืื ืืืื ื ืืจืืืืชื ืฉื ืืคืจื. ืืขืืจ ืฆืจืืื ืืืคืฉืจ ืืืืจ ืฉื ืืืฆืขื ืชืืืืจื ืืืื ืืโฌ
โซืืืืืชืืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืคืฉืจื ืืช ืงืืืื ืืฉืืฉืืื . ืืืคืื ืืืจืื ืืฆืืืืจืโฌ
โซืืจืืืืืช, ื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืช ืื ืื ื ืืื ื ืืชืื ืื ืืืงืืื ืขืืจืื ืืื ืกืืื ืชืืืืจื ืฆืืืืจืืช ืืโฌ
.โซืืจื ืืืื ืืฉืืคืืจ ืื ืืืฉืืช ืืืืืื ืจืื, ื ืืกืขืื ืืืืคื ืืื ืืื ืืกืขืื ืืชืืืืจื ืฆืืืืจืืชโฌ
โซืืฉ ืืืืื ืข ืืขืืืื ืืฉืืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืคืจืื ืืืื ืืืืืื ืืืื ืืฉืจืช ืจืง ืืืง ืืโฌ
public transport improves accessibility for pedestrians and for people who โซืืืืืืืกืื, ืืืฆืจ ืขืืืก ืขื ืจืืืืืช ืืขืืจ, ืืืคื ืจืืืืืช ืืืืืฉืื ืืกืืื ืื, ืืืจืจโฌ
ride bicycles and public transportation. It is important to avoid development .โซืืฉืงืขืืช ืืชืฉืชืืืช ืืงืจืืช ืืืืืื ืืืืืื ืืืื ืฉื ืงืจืงืข ืื ืืจืฉืช ืืื ืืโฌ
that depends on the use of private vehicles exclusively, because these
serve only part of the cityโs population, generate congestion in the cityโs
streets and turn them into dangerous roads, as well as leading to costly
investments in infrastructure and an extensive waste of land that must be
allocated for parking.
9. 7
Public structures, parks and gardens
make a city: Public buildings and parks are an important part
of cities, and they deserve high quality, prominent design that will make
them into landmarks in public space. They must be surrounded by many
residents, who live and/or work within walking distance. Public buildings
โซืืงืืืืช ืฆืืืืจืืืโฌ :โซืืื ื ืฆืืืืจ, ืคืืจืงืื ืืื ืื ืืื ื ืขืืจโฌ 7
โซืืืืืื ืืืง ืืฉืื ืืืขืืจ ืืืืจืืื ืืจืืืืื ืืชืื ืื ืืืืืชื ืืืืืื, ืื ืฉืืืื ื ืงืืืืชโฌ
โซืฆืืื ืืืจืื ืืฆืืืืจื. ืขืืืื ืืืืืช ืืืงืคืื ืืืกืคืจ ืจื ืฉื ืชืืฉืืื ืืืจืื ืื ืืฆืืืโฌ
โซืืืจืืง ืืืืื ืืื. ืืฉ ืืขืืื ืืืจืืืืืช ืืื ืื ืฆืืืืจืืื ืืืชืืืืกืื ืืงื ื ืืืืืโฌ
โซืืื ืืฉื, ืืืจืืืฉืืช ืืื ืืฉืืช ืืืืืงื ืงืื ื, ืืฆืืืืื ืืืฆืืขืื ืืืช ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืืืืืืโฌ
โซืืืขื ืืง ืืช ืืจืืขืื ืืืืืืืื ืฉื ืืืคื ืืขืืจ. ืฉืคืข ืฉื ืฉืืื ืฆืืืืจ ืืืจืืืงืื ืืืืืจืืโฌ
and gardens should be encouraged to relate to the human scale, and to
the human sensitivity to small scale detail, greenery and color that can .โซืืืืืื ืืืืื ืืืฉืืืื ืืชืืืืงื ืืืืืืื ืคืืืขื ืืงืืืืืืชโฌ
together provide special moments of urban beauty. An abundance of
public places located far away from residential areas waste resources in
their maintenance and are an ecological liability.
10. 8
Participatory planning processes:
encouraging cooperation between the community and the decision makers
in the cityโs development fosters the public involvement and responsibility
that lead to the realization of ideas in action. The public are not a disruptive
element, and the inclusion of the community and other interested parties
in planning will generate a better understanding of the usersโ needs,
โซืขืืืื ืฉืืชืืฃ ืคืขืืื ืฉื ืืงืืืื ืืืขืืโฌ :โซืชืืืืื ืชืื ืื ืืฉืชืคืืโฌ 8
โซืขื ืืื ืืืืืืืช ืืคืืชืื ืืืืฉืื ืืืฆืจืื ืืขืืจืืืช ืืืืจืืืช ืฆืืืืจืืช ืืืืคืฉืจืื ืืืฆืืขโฌ
โซืืคืืขื. ืืฆืืืืจ ืืื ื ื ืืืจื ืืคืจืืข, ืฉืืชืืฃ ืืฆืืืืจ ืืืขืื ืืขื ืืื ืืชืื ืื ืืชืจืื ืืืื ืโฌ
โซืืืชืืื ืืืื ืืืชืจ ืฉื ืืชืื ืื ืืฆืจืื ืืืฉืชืืฉืื, ืืืคืื ืืช ืืขืื ืืขื ืืื ืืืขืื ืืื ืืโฌ
.โซืืงืืืื ืืชืื ืื ืืืืืฆืืข, ืืืืจื ืืช ืงืืืืืโฌ
โซืืขืืจ ืืื ื ืื, ืืขืจืืืช ืืฉืืชืืฃ ืคืขืืื ืขื ืืจืฉืืืืช ืืกืืืืืช ืืฉืคืจื ืืช ืจืืชโฌ
and therefore a result that is more likely to meet them. It will also make .โซืืฉืืจืืชืื ืืืืืืื ืืืืช ืืืืืืืืช ืฉื ืืืืืจ ืืืืจืืคืืืื ื ืืืืโฌ
these interested parties more desirous of promoting the plans and their
implementation, a desire which will move things along more quickly.
The city is not an island. Systems of cooperation with neighboring
municipalities will improve the standard of services and the economic
opportunities of the metropolitan area as a whole.
11. 9
Bolstering the city center: Cultivating the local
community generates a strong feeling of local pride. Renovating and
bolstering the city center is a key and an incentive towards empowering
the city as a whole. Strengthening the center contributes to the lives of all
the inhabitants of the city and its surroundings. It is easier to realize the
above planning principles in the old city center than in its periphery.
โซืืืคืื ืืงืืืื ืืืงืืืืช ืืืฆืจ ืชืืืฉื ืืืงื ืฉื ืืืืืโฌ 9
:โซืืืืืง ืืจืื ืืขืืจโฌ
โซืืงืืืืช. ืฉืืงืื ืืืืืืง ืืจืื ืืขืืจ ืืื ืืืคืชื ืืืชืืจืืฅ ืืืขืฆืืช ืืขืืจ ืืืื. ืืืืืงโฌ
โซืืืจืื ืชืืจื ืืืื ืื ืชืืฉืื ืืขืืจ ืืกืืืืชื. ืงื ืืืชืจ ืืืืฉืื ืืช ืขืงืจืื ืืช ืืชืื ืืโฌ
.โซืื โื ืืืจืื ืืขืืจ ืืืืชืืงโฌ
12. 10
A local heritage and identity: The natural
and constructed heritage of the city is a precious resource. It is important
to identify, preserve and cultivate those public spaces, urban fabrics, old
neighborhoods and special buildings that make up part of the settlementโs
story. Plan every new project as a potential contribution to the cityโs unique
identity and image.
โซืืืืจืฉืช ืืืืขืืช ืืืื ืืื ืฉื ืืขืืจ ืืื ื ืืกโฌ 10
:โซืืืจืฉืช ืืืืืช ืืงืืืืชโฌ
โซืืงืจ. ืืฉ ืืืืืืจ ืืช ืืืชื ืืจืืืื ืฆืืืืจืืื, ืืจืงืืื ืื ืืืื, ืฉืืื ืืช ืืชืืงืืช ืืืื ืืโฌ
โซืืืืืืื ืืืืืืื ืืืง ืืกืืคืืจื ืฉื ืืืืฉืื, ืืฉืืืจ ืขืืืื ืืืืคืื. ืฉืงืื ืืชืื ื ืืโฌ
.โซืคืจืืืืงื ืืืฉ ืื ืฉืืื ืืชืจืื ืืืืืช ืืืืืืืืช ืืืืืฆืืื ืฉื ืืขืืจโฌ