Sportayelet Binyamina is an open public area that constitutes part of the network of current and planned bike paths in Binyamina, on the coastline.
This public space provides room for neighborhood residents, children, pedestrians, bikers and skaters to meet. The project was established at the front of a new commercial center nestled between residential neighborhoods. The Sportayelet is located on an extensive promenade that connects the highway to the town.
Public spaces fulfill an important social, community and neighborhood function. In addition to providing a shopping center that facilitates a traditional merger of commerce, socialization and recreation (a combination that does not exist in most shopping centers), it also offers room for sports, reflecting contemporary design using top quality materials.
Special emphasis was placed on the connection to the regional vista and local language. The old olive trees were preserved and optimally incorporated in the planning. Inclines are covered in flora planted in orthogonal lines reflecting the local orchards and vineyards.
The promenade allows visitors to participate in a variety of sporting activity free of charge in an open and shaded environment: an extreme asphalt path winds around six hills, providing room for a humoristic three-dimensional space. Alongside the path is an area that contains 'old-fashioned' fitness equipment: horizontal bars, parallel bars, pole, ladder, etc. Wide benches are scattered in paved areas, allowing visitors to sit and meet as well as providing an option to participate in other sporting activity.
The area is designed as a city square, allowing for activity for many ages. Near the playground and fitness facility are two linear spaces: one for walking and traveling and the other, an extreme path for skating and riding along the hills. Although the areas of activities are placed side by side, each activity has its own defined and unique area.
Strong emphasis was placed on reducing the amount of landscaped areas and on providing optimal shading for the space to create a pleasant, comfortable micro-climate throughout the year. Large, deciduous trees were planted to provide significant shade in the summer and maximum light in the winter. The lawn areas were limited to hills, offering room for informal seating and meetings.
This planning creates a significant community environment that encourages meeting as well as an array of sporting activity. Sportayelet Binyamina is a focal point for local residents in general, and particularly for young people, something that is lacking in other local areas. The promenade serves as another important anchor in the walking and bike path network in Binyamina, which serves as an active and vibrant gateway to the town.
Size: 2.5 Ha
Place: Binyamina western entrance of Route 4
Completion: 2013