The English language is a crucial tool for social mobility. Reinforcement of English studies opens up endless opportunities and changes the self-perception and ability of being an active individual in the society.
YRF is an American fund that made the English studies in the Israeli periphery its goal. Ramla is a diverse city which inhabits both, Muslims, Christians and Jews, newcomers from Ethiopia and ex USSR. Thus Ramla is a natural environment for YRF to integrate in.
In 2008 the YRF foundation contacted the firm and asked to provide architectural model for an English centre in Ramla. The main challenge was to produce a plan that reflects the YRF special approach to English studies.
The children of the 21st century are exposed to intensive stimulations. The traditional educational methods aren't satisfying as a significant alternative for contemporary communication. The educational act needs a space for a new learning experience. The new building for English studies realizes those ideas.
There are no classrooms in the building. It consists of several spaces that encourage interactions and conversations between the children and between the children and the stuff. Learning English throughout daily experience and accomplishing tasks in various fields.
The building is divided to two floors, in each floor there are three activity areas. The ground floor is dedicated to elementary school aged children and the first floor to high school aged students. In both floors an audio-video room and a multifunctional space that occupies half of the floor. The third room is an art workshop in the ground floor, and a lounge in the first floor.
Design process
The design process was a dialog between the American fund, the client, and the Israeli architecture firm. We reinterpret the American concept of education institution, a neo-classical portico. The building as a whole is an outdoor-indoor study environment. It is a modern stoa comprises interactions between pupils-people.
The white fold wraps the environment we created and floats above it providing shade in the hot middle-eastern climate. Working in a tight budget leaded us to the very basics of architecture: white plastered walls, bare concrete and clear glass. The combination of the three created architecture which is innovative and local.