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The Modern Sanitarium

Collaboration with: Naomi Klein and Adi Bracha 

Tutors: Prof. Dr. Arch . Hadas Shadar, Prof. Dr. Arch . Baruch Baruch

Year:2017

By the late 1920s, sanatoriums had become a fundamental part of Israel's landscape and culture. Government institutions established them to address two primary needs: rest and recreation. The Histadrut recognized the importance of maintaining employees' well-being, ensuring they stayed healthy and fit for continued work. These sanatoriums were often located in remote areas, away from cities, where employees could take a break from their work routines. However, the nature and purpose of these convalescent homes were defined by the state.

As the popularity of sanatoriums declined, the options for vacations in Israel began to grow. The founding of the state opened up opportunities for personal development. This manifesto raises questions about the concept of "recovery." It suggests that the era of seeing recovery as a methodical and quantitative process has come to an end, sparking a debate about what recovery means in our time. Is stepping away from the city and daily life still the best way to recover?

Who is healing meant for—the individual or something broader? Does recovery depend on culture? Did people feel the need to leave for convalescence?

I aim to create a new interpretation of recovery. While in the past, nature was an integral part of the sanatorium experience, this new concept integrates the city into the process and emphasizes how the city itself can encourage exploration and wandering.

The manifesto highlights that healing is a personal process, connected to both body and mind, and not necessarily reliant on nature. In modern society, recovery can take place in a variety of alternative ways—some rooted in urban life, and others yet to be developed through thoughtful planning.

The proposed plan seeks to make recovery accessible to all, emerging from the structured grid of Tel Aviv. It is time for contemporary recovery to recognize the importance of the individual, be accessible to everyone, and serve as a platform for personal triumph.