Layers of Time

Project idea

Context: The Frozen Monument in a Dynamic Urban Core.
Across the country, approximately 50 British Mandate police fortresses—known as Tegart Forts—stand as imposing monuments of reinforced concrete, built during the 1940s to secure strategic regional hubs. The Ramat Gan Tegart Fort on Jabotinsky Road was integrated directly into a major urban corridor. Over the decades, this area underwent dramatic transformations, shifting from rural agricultural orchards into a low-rise urban texture, transitioning through light industrial expansion, and ultimately evolving into a high-density, bustling modern commercial and residential core.

While the surrounding neighborhood rapidly modernized—bolstered by contemporary towers, extensive urban renewal, and the implementation of a new light rail transit line—the historic fortress became progressively disconnected and "frozen in time." Although the building has recently undergone structural preservation, it currently stands abandoned and underutilized.

The Idea: "Layers of Time"
The design concept, titled "Layers of Time," addresses this spatial disconnect. Rather than treating the fortress as an isolated museum artifact, the architectural intervention embraces the site's historical phases as foundation layers, superimposing a active contemporary layer that honors the past while breathing new life into the structure.

Goals & Objectives to be Reached

Reintegrate the Site into the Public Realm: Revitalize the underutilized historic structure by transforming it into a vibrant cultural, educational, and civic hub.

Execute a Sensitive Intervention: Protect the striking historic facades and monumental street-level presence by concentrating new volume in a designated area.

Foster Dialogue via Adaptive Reuse: Transform a space once defined by defense and exclusion into one of inclusion, learning, and public gathering.

Project description

The Spatial Strategy & Scope
The architectural solution bridges the heavy historical shell with contemporary lightness through a clear programmatic division, dividing the project into two primary zones:

The Historic Core (Adaptive Reuse): The existing wings of the original Tegart fortress are repurposed to host cultural and social programs. The original, cellular spatial division of the fortress is utilized to create intimate, rotating art exhibition galleries. To invite the public inside and foster a welcoming urban lobby, a modern restaurant and a vibrant cafe are integrated into the ground floor, spilling out into the inner courtyard.

The New Southern Wing (The Extension): To accommodate high-occupancy public functions without damaging the monumental north and west facades facing Jabotinsky Road, a new modern wing is constructed on the southern portion of the site. This new wing houses a state-of-the-art municipal library, advanced study zones, lecture halls, and community conference spaces.

The Courtyard as a Connector: The central courtyard, historically used for military assemblies, is redesigned as a public plaza—an open-air theater and gathering space that seamlessly connects the historic wings with the modern extension.

Technical information

Structural & Material Specifications

Structural System:

Historic Structure: The original 1940s reinforced concrete envelope is structurally preserved, with localized carbon-fiber reinforcement (CFRP) to support the new public occupancy loads.

Southern Extension: A lightweight structural steel frame combined with cast-in-place white architectural concrete elements, creating a material dialogue with the heavy, dark grey concrete of the original British fortress.

Facade & Envelope Treatment:

The New Wing: Clad in high-performance, double-glazed curtain walls with low-E coating to maximize natural daylight while controlling thermal gain. To prevent glare in the library and study areas, a secondary skin of micro-perforated aluminum louvers is introduced, filtering the intense Mediterranean sun.

The Historic Wing: Concrete surfaces are treated with breathable hydrophobic protective coatings to prevent carbonation while preserving the original historical patina and battle scars.

Interior Finishes & Acoustics:

Acoustic wood paneling and suspended acoustic baffles are integrated into the library and lecture halls to manage sound reverberation within the high-ceilinged spaces.

Polished concrete flooring is used throughout to maintain a cohesive, industrial-yet-refined aesthetic across both the old and new wings.

Environmental & Systems Integration (Sustainability):

HVAC: Energy-efficient VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) systems are integrated discreetly within the historic building to preserve interior ceiling heights.

Renewable Energy: The flat roof of the southern extension is utilized for a building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar array and a partial green roof to mitigate the urban heat island effect.