Understanding Design, Augmenting Teams
Computational Design for Desert Afforestation
PROJECT
Be'er Sheba lies within a semi-arid landscape, yet its river can carry substantial quantities of water during seasonal winter floods. This project explored how that temporary resource could support local afforestation and landscape regeneration in an area characterized by pronounced topographical variation.
APPROACH
GIS information and topographic analysis informed the development of an intelligent water-collection landscape. Parametric modeling was used to explore variations in earth-mound geometry and their capacity to capture and redirect seasonal runoff, linking computational form generation with environmental performance.
CONTRIBUTION
The proposal demonstrates how computational design can respond directly to local climatic and topographic conditions, transforming seasonal flooding from a constraint into a resource for landscape development.

ROLE
COLLABORATORS
TECHNOLOGY
AFFILIATION
PROG. DIRECTORS
Topographic Analysis · Parametric Modeling
Nir Zarfaty · Tamy Strugo
GIS · Parametric Modeling · Digital Fabrication
AA Visiting School, “Active Matter” · Shenkar College of Engineering and Design
Gary Freedman · Shany Barath