JNF Conference Centre

Overlooking the western edge of the Ramon Crater, the world’s largest erosion crater and Israel’s largest national park, the project was designed to meet three primary goals: 1. To create environmentally sensitive design with minimized impact. 2. To continue to strengthen JNF’s mission and commitment to the Negev. 3. To enhance and evolve Mizpe-Ramon’s diverse fabric of communities.

Built upon sustainable design principles, the new Conference Centre integrates itself in the landscape harmoniously, by utilizing most of it’s surface area for public use. Working within the natural surroundings, the auditorium lays beneath a gently sloped ‘green roof’ structure allowing for dramatic amphitheatre seating facing the tranquil Ramon Crater. The meandering rock gardens at the entrance, as well as the sheltered sunken and shaded garden, create a flow of internal-external spaces throughout the Conference Centre. Connection to the street and the pedestrian walkway reinforce and encourage the open approach to the city and its communities. Emulating the dramatic geological, crater typology the classroom wing extends out and cantilevers over the entrance to maximise views across the desert edge and beyond. Mitzpe Ramon’s natural characteristics and intrinsic relationship to the desert and night sky inspires a meaningful integration of light, material, colour, texture and form throughout the building. Built using perforated brick and contemporary Mashrabiya elements, natural light and temperatue are controlled and filtered into the spaces creating, comfortable soft naturally lit spaces.

Left: Floor Plan 0, Right: Floor Plan 1

Team  Ekateryna Yolkina, Abigail Benouaich, Ori Rotem