(haipo) - Shmuel Galbhart, an architect and urban planner from Haifa who served as deputy mayor and is responsible for the areas of planning and the environment, expresses a sharp criticism of the renewal plan for the "Casino" in Bat Galim, as submitted to the district committee. According to him, the plan is particularly problematic due to the intention to add two floors above the pillared floor in the open area, where the mythical Bat Galim pool used to be.
Instead, Galbhart suggests adding floors above the existing structure and leaving the area of the mythical pool open.
Here it is worth noting that if this proposal is accepted, it will significantly increase the presence of this building and its impact on the neighborhood.
The plan submitted by the developers - addition of a building to the east of the casino
Galbhart: "It is better to add to the height and not to the sides"
"During my time as deputy RA, we approved the preservation of Beit Hassan, which is right on the other side of the road and has 6 floors next to it and another floor in the back, for a hotel, first line to the water. What is the point now in blocking it, and possibly more hotels in the future, by building in the open area?", asks Galbhart...
"If the casino developer wants more rooms for the hotel he is promoting, it is better to raise it as much as necessary with a modern aluminum and glass building."
Conservation by contrast - contrast between old and new
"This is preservation by the opposite," explains Galbhart, "a coexistence between new and old, like the Hatzel museum in Jaffa, or the pyramid in the Louvre in Paris." Recently, Galbhart presented his proposal to Rabbi Yahav and his deputy, Sharit Golan. According to him, he was happy to hear from them that they are also opposed to building in the open area.
Reconstruction of the Olympic pool
Galbhart adds: "Yona Yahav, the mayor of Haifa, is proposing to use the open space for the rebuilding of the Olympic pool, but I don't see the possibility of that. First, to the best of my recollection, the original pool was not really Olympic, because it was 33 and a third meters long, and anyway a pool was not You will be Olympic with sea water and the place will not be enough for all the facilities needed for an Olympic pool.
Instead, I propose to develop the area as a neighborhood park overlooking the sea, with a wading pool. For swimmers, there is a wonderful natural pool in the nearby blue lagoon, which I personally use at the beginning of each day."
Casino structure
The casino building was built in the 30s in Bat Galim and was never used as a casino. The original building was destroyed and today a concrete skeleton stands in its place. Over the years, the building marred the Bat Galim Promenade, but it was never repaired or rebuilt.
The plans to build a hotel on the site of the casino aroused great opposition among the residents of the neighborhood, who claim that the building should be qualified so that it will serve as a place for them and not be a building that is closed to them.
"impressive monument"
"The casino building is worthy of preservation because it is already burned into the city's and even the national memory," explains Galbart, "there are different ways of preservation, starting from buildings where nothing should be changed, to buildings that can be changed in a controlled manner, or even the other way around, to approve preservation by opposing , as I suggest for the casino building. Unfortunately, the view from the boulevard is already blocked, at least we will have an impressive monument at the end, with unique lighting. Why not?"
"I propose to add a modern structure, the opposition will preserve it"
"I propose to leave the casino building as it is after renovation, and instead of adding the wing that would block the open space, add a modern building above the casino, building an addition from modern elements of aluminum and glass. In that case, they will see what has been preserved and the new building will correspond with it. The view towards The sea is blocked anyway, so construction on the casino will not interfere. Every project has a conflict and the architect's job is to resolve this conflict. In this case, we have a friendly compromise for all parties."
It is important to promote the program with consent
"I propose to gather around the plan I proposed. It is always possible to enter into a fight with the local and district committee. I propose to advance the project by agreement so that it serves all parties. I have already met with several parties. There is a problem that the plan currently includes construction next to the original structure of the casino. I am of course I don't think it is necessary to build on this area. It is possible to make an open community center there, some facilities for children, for events and meetings. I talked to the residents and told them that in my opinion the idea that the municipality would find a way to take ownership of the casino is not realistic, therefore it is better to move forward in agreement with the construction of the casino itself and think about what can be done alongside it. We would like the casino building not to be closed to the public, but to have restaurants and galleries open to the public."
Last week a meeting was held between Galbhart, Yahav and the deputy mayor, Sharit Golan Steinberg. "I proposed at the meeting to build an aluminum and glass structure at whatever height they decide, they did not respond to that. From what I understand, Yahav is interested in building 2 floors on top of the existing structure and adding an Olympic pool in the available space. I think that there is no justification for an Olympic pool in the available space. Instead I proposed, as mentioned, a pool toddlers".
The Haifa Municipality's position is not to approve construction on the empty lot
The deputy mayor, Sharit Golan Steinberg, delivered to Lai Fah: "In the meeting with Mr. Galbhart, we did not see any difference in his proposal compared to the plan submitted several years ago by the same developer. It was explained to Mr. Galbhart at the meeting that the Haifa Municipality's position is not to approve construction on the empty lot anyway, so we did not see any news in this matter either."
Look to Europe and the US for examples of beautiful waterfront parks with sculptures that engage people, especially the young. Splash pools for kids (approx. 1/2 meter deep don't require wearing bathing suits, or life-guards. I see many babies in Bat Galim. I think they'll enjoy it some day.
To establish a large tourist complex that will liven up Bat Galim - an art museum in the introduction, a hotel with floors to be built above it, a quality cafe on the side of the sea. A luxury restaurant of some second eel on the roof of the hotel will come alone along with the traffic in the area. Tourists who happened to be in Haifa will have somewhere to visit and that's how in a few years you turn the boulevard, the beach, the promenade and the surrounding neighborhood into one of the most accurate and cool places in the country for all ages.
Why is he relevant? He's been retired for some 20 years, right?
Who is there to give an opinion anyway?
The building should not be preserved because it is not a building to be preserved but an unfaithful copy of the original of a previous building
It should be destroyed like the municipality of Tel Aviv destroyed the dolphinarium and build an active water sports center for the residents of Haifa and for tourism
There is no place for the construction of another wing of a hotel, which is a new construction in a coastal area and is prohibited
Galbhart's proposal - a hallucination.
As a renowned expert in the field of preservation of construction materials and the long-term sustainability of concrete, I say in all seriousness: there is no reasonable way from a techno-economic point of view to preserve a reinforced concrete building that was in a neglected state in direct contact with the marine environment so that it is sunk. It is possible to do a reconstruction to maintain the architectural concept while preserving the historical memory. At the level of the original material - not possible because of the special structure of reinforced concrete. Happy New Year, Dr. Rina Wasserman, Head of Conservation Studies Department, Western Galilee Academic College
Olympic pool!!
If it is possible to extend it to 50 m, it is better.
Today there is only one in all of Haifa - at the Technion.
Take an example from Tel Aviv's mythical Gordon pool. In Tel Aviv, they managed to preserve the pool, which is one of the symbols of the city, to renew it, and today it is very active and lively.
The Tel Aviv children and youth learn to swim there and spend time there and see it as a second home.
In an Olympic pool, pools and time are measured, which cannot be done in open water swimming - the Haifas are also eligible.
If possible - add gyms, sauna and jacuzzi and free parking spaces.
Do something for the city and not for the entrepreneurs.
Ruth is right
Supports the planning approach of architect Ruth Blumenfeld - establishing a water sports center with an Olympic swimming pool.
All the architectural "noise" of the various "experts" who all have real estate and economic interests.
Does anyone remember the original casino building?!
The only memory left of this entire gambling complex is the Olympic swimming pool on the tower with its 3 jumps up to a height of 10 meters.
Everything else is a matter of economic interest and not conservation.
It is likely that this "architectural monument" will remain there for many years to come.
Sea water is not possible in an Olympic pool. There is no room to extend it with all the facilities serving audience stands, etc. That's why I suggested a toddler pool. There is an Olympic pool not only in the Technion, but also in Sportan.
How many "experts" stood up regarding the corrosion of aluminum in a marine environment, how much nonsense there is in the responses to the article - aluminum painted in appropriate colors lasts much longer than painted iron or, God forbid, galvanized. Not every type of stainless steel is suitable for a marine environment either.
No one, not even in the urban planning institution, which is managed by lawyers instead of engineers of an adequate quality level, pays attention to the skeleton of the building that stands without any protection against corrosion, concrete that has absorbed a huge amount of corrosive chlorides from the sea water, and which caused the destruction The totality of the anticorrosive protection on the iron rods inside the concrete - a matter of time and all the iron in the skeleton of the building will blow up all the concrete elements in the skeleton of the existing structure and all the grandiose plans planned conceptually for the time being only on the computer screen.
How much of a dream is there in the urban planning institution for construction and the failed engineering director who covers himself with a sub-level assistant engineer and a thief above all - Eng. Y.S.
I agree with a loyal reader, how right he is!
Eng. Y.S. He is one of the brightest engineers I know. And believe me I know a lot.
Galbhart, what about a parking solution for the hotel?
Or do you also think it is not important?
How will you find parking on Ritzif Rosenfeld every morning when you come to swim
In a lagoon with the addition of dozens of cars of hotel visitors?
Or you intend to arrive by public transport in two buses
Every day to the beach?
There are hotels with a sea of parking and no real sea. And there are hotels with an adjacent real sea, and creative solutions for access to hotel guests. I estimate that many would prefer such a hotel even if they knew in advance that it does not have adjacent parking.
Haifa is a city of brain foggers and opponents are not people of action. The specialty of Nu Haifaim is to resist not people of action. mountain who
For so many years they have been making suggestions and making plans about what to do with the casino. Stop the proofs and the paralysis in the island of Isya. Do it and stop the brain confusion in the island of Isya. Haya is a city without action, everyone thinks, they are smart, they know. Do it!!!
Oh,
Is there anything uglier and unrelated than aluminum and glass to the beach in the Middle East?!
In short, a very bad idea and I wish they would replace the architect. And of course not to touch the public open space!
Micro thinking where macro planning is needed.
And what about the transportation to the hallucinatory building?
Better to land and leave the sea.
It is the cheapest and most conservative.
If Gelbart opposes a plan, it's a good one. Aluminum structure in an environment of corrosion and winds??? Since there are no aluminum screws, any screw of any other material will be a focus for corrosion, ugliness and constant maintenance. and the promiscuity at the height on the sea line. It doesn't seem to me that a tall building will fit or fit the place.
By the way, wake me up when Galbhart agrees to some plan.
I led objections to the ammonia tank, a 3-fold increase in the ZAN, the takeover of the Kishon Park by the Chinese port, the so-called "marina" in Bat Galim, the monsters of the Carmel beach, an industrial zone instead of the Naot Peres neighborhood, and more. Many joined my objections, and except for one, they were accepted If "Tarzan" supports these types of programs, maybe as "The Monkey King" it will be more successful...
Well done my friend Shmuel. May you be signed and sealed in the book of life
I think Galbart is right.
Is there a chance that the casino problem will be solved by the end of the century...?
The deputy of the RA and the vice-chairman of the V for planning and construction, attorney Sharit Golan, does not see a "line" or difference between a concrete building, or an aluminum and glass structure. However, this is a complete difference! The walls look completely different. The original casino building, preserved without change! You can immediately see what is new and what is old. This allows the developer to add rooms, without building in the vacant area of the former pool, and preserve it also for the benefit of the neighborhood and especially its children.
Gelbart, it's not just that you are responsible for some of the most shocking phenomena that have been established in Haifa.
A foreign aluminum and glass structure is alienated and suitable neither for the maritime climate nor for the environment of Bat Galim.
One of the weirdest suggestions I've heard. And if the developer demands 10 spikes, will you give it to him? What about 25? As if where did the audacity come from to take care of the developer and not the cautious consideration that requires a public structure there like in a dolphinarium.
Not a toddler pool, not an Olympic swimming pool - Bat Galim longs for the extension of the bathing beach plus 50 meters of beach strip.
That's what's needed there.
Can you name one "shocking" phenomenon that I am responsible for? Or is it just a shocking slander.
First.. Mr. Galbhart did not mention that when he supported the construction of the hotel on the other side of the road.. with him he granted the developer for some reason a floating right of "operational parking" which takes away 11 parking spaces from the general public.. and all this for what???
And now to the subject itself: indeed, Attorney Golan indicated the situation to confirm that there is no innovation in the municipality's position in Galbhart's proposal.
It was expected to present a comprehensive spatial plan that connects the entire space in front of the casino with the promenade that will be expanded and with the boulevard that will be maintained and upgraded.
So..if anything..it is desirable to knock down the existing structure and erect a unique iconic structure there. A new symbol for the city..but one whose ground levels create full openness to the sea..and even make an effort to unite landowners..as an alternative or addition and create another tourist icon in the parking lot next to the cable car. And so to release the former pool area to the public.. and even consider introducing a bay of sea water into the land and thus extending the surface area where visitors experience the crashing waves.
namely. in thought It is possible to upgrade the entire space and create connectivity with a tourist train on the promenade because the hotel does not have an option in the current planning for applicable parking which is an operational condition including access for supply and evacuation. It does not seem that appropriate testing programs have been devoted to the subject. And certainly not thinking about the social contribution to the neighborhood and the city
My proposal combines a contribution to the neighborhood with a contribution to tourism, and to the investor. There is definitely room for a comprehensive new plan, not only for the neighborhood, but also for updating the striped outline plan. Although I initiated its preparation, I was no longer a partner in the planning, but in objections...