Dudaim Visitors Center
Dudaim Landfill, Negev

Identity A unique buildling for a unique site. A functioning landfill in the Negev which receives the waste of a large area of Israel, with the aspiration of becoming a center for environmentally concsious waste management with the establishment of a sorting factory, and existing energy generation station powered by retrieved methane gas from the landfill, and programs for students and the general public, towards raising environmental awareness, the habit of recycling and reuse of raw materials. The design is proposing a building which is part of the landfill site, dug into the landfill site - as opposed to a building that is 'adjacent' or 'on top' of the landfill. In effect, the waste which surrounds the interior spaces, is evident everywhere, raising the issue of quantity, urgency and environmental impact. In addition to the educational tools within the building the building itself is an educating tool.

Organization The organization of the building is built along a path - the visitors' path - starting from the parking and entrance lobby, and ending at the auditorium. Along the path, the visitor is engaged in playing and learning on waste and waste recycling. The planned internal path is combined with a visit to the adjacent sorting plant.

Materials Concrete cast in place, use of recycled concrete from demolitions, salvaged tires and wooden light posts.

'Green' design This building follows the following principles: (a) The building is part of the waste site and its design and construction is made possible through salvaging materials from the waste site itself. (b) The building is an educational tool that is meant to both raise awawreness by the visual impact of waste, and the quantity of waste, and as a container of educational tools/stations along a path. The aim is to use at least 50% of salvaged materials, to increase natural daylight and ventilation, and to design the building with a minimum 60-70% energy conservation, water recycling and reuse, and to assure that the building can obtain a A-B green building IS 5281 classification.

The preliminary design was completed in 2009.