Hava Stoties
Compared to other cities in Israel, where industrial zones are distinct, fenced-off areas located on the outskirts of the city, the industrial zone in Haifa Bay is situated at the heart of the metropolis. Since the 1930s, the Haifa Bay district has been the main industrial area of the Haifa metropolitan area. It was the first modern industrial zone established in Israel at that time, and it remains one of the largest in the country today. The phenomenon of an "industrial zone in the city center rather than its outskirts" occurred as a result of the development and expansion of Haifa’s surrounding cities—the Krayot. Krayot is a cluster of small settlements established in the mid-1930s, north of the city of Haifa. Over time, the boundaries between the settlements became blurred, and Haifa annexed Kiryat Haim and Kiryat Shmuel, which developed along the northern border of the industrial zone. This solidified the confinement of the industrial zone within the city not only geographically but also municipally.
Technological development, along with related infrastructure and the scale of production and industry, influenced the extent of industrial areas in the city, which contributed to the development of Haifa and the Krayot area. Many large industrial plants began to develop and expand as early as the 1920s, during the British Mandate period, and continue to this day.
The research discusses the issue of integrating industrial heritage preservation in a renewing urban space, focusing on the case of the Haifa Tank Farm, which is at risk of disappearing with the approval of National Outline Plan 75 (TAMA 75). In the last decade, there has been a decline in industry in the city, with its relocation to unpopulated areas. National Outline Plan TAMA/75, which was approved with the goal of clearing the Haifa metropolitan area of its industrial zone and developing a new city in its place, devoid of context and connection to the local spirit. Following the approval of TAMA 75, the Haifa Bay Master Plan was adopted, leading to a government decision to cease industrial activity and remove industrial facilities from the area.
Due to urban renewal, industrial and craft areas in city centers are undergoing renewal processes and are being transformed into residential, business, or mixed-use areas. This turns the "black hole" into the heart of the city, combining different land uses in the same area, such as residential, commercial, and employment.
Throughout the research, there is a discussion about the fate of post-industrial cities, the causes and consequences of industry relocation, which has led to either great success or total collapse of the city. Important questions are examined, such as "How can we act differently to prevent a major disaster?", "Why did neighborhoods like Florentin and Docklands succeed in coping with industry relocation, while Detroit faced a surge in crime and negative migration?" and "Is the relocation of industry putting Haifa at risk of becoming another Detroit?"
.png)
