Abandoned Haifa Gas Station Transformed Into Vibrant Cultural Hub
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
An abandoned gas station in Haifa has been transformed into "The Haifa Living Room," a temporary cultural and community hub by Reality Group and The Lighthouse Association. The space will host events and activities before a planned long-term development. This initiative aims to create immediate urban and community value by activating the neglected site and connecting local neighborhoods. The project also acknowledges the area's historical significance and seeks to foster a sense of belonging among residents.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- An abandoned Haifa gas station is now "The Haifa Living Room," a temporary cultural hub.
- Reality Group and The Lighthouse Association are leading the revitalization project.
- The space will host events and activities before future development.
- The initiative aims to create community value and connect neighborhoods.
- The project acknowledges the site's historical significance.
An abandoned gas station in Haifa, located on Khouri Street between the Wadi Nisnas and Hadar neighborhoods, is being revitalized as a temporary cultural and community space called "The Haifa Living Room." The initiative, led by Reality Group in collaboration with the local Lighthouse Association, aims to transform the neglected 11-dunam site into a lively hub before a planned residential and commercial development.
The "Haifa Living Room" will host local events, gatherings, and activities, serving as an open space for people to gather, create, and connect. This "interim use" approach is intended to activate the area immediately, fostering community engagement and urban value while awaiting the long-term development project. Aviv Nagbi, Impact Manager at Reality Group, stated that interim uses are an opportunity to listen to the place and create value in the present.
The project also acknowledges the site's historical significance, being near the former Khouri family palace built in 1908. The design concept, developed with O.A Studio, focuses on creating an inviting physical space that encourages lingering, meeting, and diverse activities, driven by the needs of local residents and the area's unique character.
"We want this space to be a connecting link between the neighborhoods, not another complex that turns its back on the street," Nagbi added. "Success will be measured by people's ability to enter, stay, meet, and feel that the place belongs to them."
Future plans for the site include a mixed-use development with housing, employment, and commercial spaces, alongside a green public area. A key principle of the future design is to create pedestrian continuity within the complex and with its surroundings, including connections to Haifa's characteristic stairways. The Lighthouse Association, founded in 2020, promotes culture, art, and design in Haifa, bringing together creators, designers, architects, artists, and activists. Architect Omri Zilcha, a member of the association, described the space as a home for Haifa's design and architecture community, open to the public and their respective communities.
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