Abandoned Haifa Gas Station Transformed Into Vibrant Cultural Hub

An abandoned gas station in Haifa 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 on Khouri Street into a lively hub before a planned residential and commercial development.

The "Haifa Living Room" will host local events and activities, serving as an open space for people to gather, create, and connect. This interim use 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 location and create present-day urban and community value.

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 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 commerce, alongside a green public space. The design emphasizes pedestrian continuity and integration with Haifa's distinctive urban structure, including its stairways. The Lighthouse Association, founded in 2020, supports culture, art, and design in Haifa, aiming to strengthen the city through these fields. Architect Omri Zilcha, a member of the association, described the space as a home for Haifa's design and architecture community, accessible to the wider public.