Israeli architects Moshe Fluhr, Lee Davidson Lehrer and Yinnon Lehrer submitted this design for a contemporary memorial home for Ramat Yishay – a community situated in northern Israel. The design competition for Yad Lebanim, which means Fallen Sons Commemoration, called for a mixed-use development complete with activity rooms, educational facilities, a library and an amphitheater.
Responding to the dearth of urban parks in the region, the trio topped their proposed design with a verdant green roof.
Ramat Yishay is short on green public spaces, so Fluhr, Lehrer and Lehrer designed their memorial such that it would integrate seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.
This is achieved in part with landscaped roof populated with only indigenous plant species that don’t require a great deal of water to maintain. The roof doubles as a promenade which counteracts land lost to the building’s footprint.
Energy efficiency is yet another advantage of topping new developments with green roofs as they provide natural insulation in addition to improving air quality. An open courtyard forms the nucleus of the facility, which also boasts office space, a bathroom and various gathering areas.
Completely integrated within the surrounding “parkscape,” the 500 square meter military memorial and community center fosters constant, intimate dialogue between the indoors and outdoors.
:: Arch Daily
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
