Hiriya Refuse Mountain Planning Competition – Ayalon Park

This international competition for the rehabilitation of the Hiriya Refuse Mountain called for ideas about how to transform this prominent garbage mountain into an active and positive landmark as part of the Ayalon Park. The iconographic shape of the mountain proved to be structurally instable, and part of the design task was to suggest solutions to protect it from collapsing into the Ayalon riverbed that embraces the site.

In our proposal we suggested applying to the future treatment of the mountain the same criteria that characterized its erection: communal contribution, open-endedness and ever-occurring change. The incremental filling and flattening of the existing mountain slopes would lend a platform for temporary exhibitions and installation, inviting public participation at every level. The final facets of the mountain slopes would reflect the rich and multi-colored history of the mountains’ inside. The top part of the mountain would be divided onto different areas for active and passive recreation: strolling, bicycling, horse-back riding, listening to concerts, partying, sculpting, and more.