This intervention reimagines Mandel Square in Kiryat Yam as a vibrant, accessible public space — transforming a fragmented plaza into a cohesive urban hub for gathering, movement, and community life.

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Once divided across three disconnected levels and raised above the street, the original square functioned more as a corridor than a place — a transitional zone tucked between a community center and a municipal cultural building. Its elevated topography restricted views, limited access, and isolated the space from the city’s main pedestrian axis leading to the sea. The redesign brings the square down to meet the street, removing physical barriers and restoring visual and spatial continuity. The new ground plane offers seamless entry from all directions, while a redefined topographic system introduces subtle slopes, terraces, and sightlines that create a more fluid experience. The result is not just a more accessible plaza — but a lively, central stage for daily life. With its emphasis on openness, integration, and flow, the project reshapes how people gather, move, and relate to their environment. Mandel Square is no longer a leftover space between institutions, but a civic anchor — a shared ground that invites participation and fosters belonging.