Desert Settlements/Desert City

Access the .PDF Version (12.2MB)

Israel

1 Aerial view, housing and storage facilities 2 HProcessing buildings, greenhouses, and silos 3 Settlement community

Desert Settlements

With the abundance of land in the Negev Desert that is currently unused because of adverse and severe climate conditions, this study investigates agricultural based Settlements with small Desert Cities east of the coast within the Negev Desert. As sites for human habitation, this region has an overabundance of sun and an absence of Water. No rain is received. Power is non existent. Small Desert Settlements with sustainable land management, Greenhouse construction, drip irrigation, vertical planting concepts, seasonal crops are anticipated.

Agricultural innovation is the rule not the exception. With water wells in deep brackish aquifers, water sources can be developed. Farms with saline tolerant crops like "salt water" tomato, broccoli, beet and other vegetables provide sources of food or export. Flowers can grow for shipping to other countries. Fig trees, olive groves are possible. Fish farms, shrimp, prosper. Water condensation techniques produce higher quality water; more expensive desalinization water supplies from the coast are considered. The ultimate goal is to provide food and jobs and land to develop and live on.

1 Aerial view, housing and storage facilities 2 HProcessing buildings, greenhouses, and silos 3 Settlement community

Desert City

Desert City results from the services to and from the many anticipated settlements and demands from coastal centers. Both processing plants and manufacturing provide jobs for residents. Desert research facilities would prosper. Relocation of refugees and immigrants to the Middle East could find homes and jobs here.

With temperature averages at about 97 degrees in summer, large lightweight translucent shading provides a cooler environment for the people below.

Deep geothermal cooling is investigated for special building types. Photovoltaic arrays provide power from the sun. A shaded center with schools and cultural facilities serve low rise, low density housing neighborhoods with shaded courtyards.

Occasionally discussed in political negotiations as potential land trade between Palestinians and Israelis, this new desert land reclamation suggests positive potential.

Project Design Team: Keith Boyle, Micheal Cortese, Matthew Fallows, Nicholaus Lupi, Brian Troie