Gilo Housing in Jerusalem 1975

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The new neighbourhood, comprising 250 apartments of various sizes, is located on a hill south of Jerusalem overlooking the panorama of the Old City and West Jerusalem.

The project is based on two principles evolved from Mediterranean and Jerusalem building traditions. A repetitive modular size of 4.5 metres is used - this module is found in structures in the Old City and in the free packing of the Arab village. There is also a conscious use of open spaces: courtyards, arcades, outside steps, balconies and roofs. In this project the buildings are staggered in cross-section as well as in plan by modular packing of 4.5 m width and 2.6 m depth. Access is by external stairs that climb from ground-level to the roof passing through one of the two balconies, with which each apartment is provided. Here an ancient Talmudic truth is applied: "First one enters the courtyard and then the home."