Smart cities and eco-friendly approach

The project also adopts energy efficient, environmentally sound and eco-friendly rehabilitation principles. Renovation and building reuse is the main eco-friendly approach. Around 1200sqm vacant space in the heart of the old city of Jerusalem has been renovated in this project. However in addition to the renovation itself and despite the challenges faced, mainly because of the fact that the building is a heritage site in the old city of Jerusalem, yet several eco-friendly components have been implemented in the project to enhance sustainability.
The most important implementation is the installation of photovoltaics cells to be installed on the roof of one of the buildings. These cells will convert solar energy into useful electricity to provide electricity to public spaces in the courtyards as well as part of the ground floor civic center.
In addition to this, water reuse has also been a major eco-friendly implementation in the project. Rainwater is collected from the courtyards into a cistern originally found in the ground floor of the complex. This cistern has been renovated and treated to be reused for water collection and pumping for the firefighting system.
As for the air circulation in the building, 4 skylights have been added to the ground floor in addition to the mechanical ventilation system that was also introduced to the site to allow for a proper ventilation circulation. This came as a solution for the fact that the building has been completely unventilated with no openings as the back of each façade has a function and no other openings could be made other than skylights.
Also there was an emphasis in the project to use eco-friendly material in the construction process. One of the examples, is the use of special imported pointing and plastering material that is certified as an eco-friendly and natural mortar containing pure NHL 3.5, EN 459-1 compliant lime for extremely breathable rough rendering and pointing of masonry. This material is ideal for use in Green Building and Historical Restoration as it contains raw materials of only natural origin and low CO2 emissions and very low volatile organic compound emissions. Provides natural ventilation to improve indoor air quality, naturally bacteriostatic and fungistatic effect.
Another modern technology introduced to the project is the geoplast, which consists of a fully recyclable and environmentally sustainable module that is placed above the concrete slab. This technology was used to provide to separate the building from the ground and provide proper ventilation to the foundation.
Underfloor heating system has also been installed in the project, this system provides cleaner air than the air pushed around by radiators as along with warm air, radiators push around moisture. Having moisture in the air can result in damp and mold forming, reducing the air quality in the space and effect the historical stone walls.
The project also enhance greenery, either in the courtyards, the internal ground floor space near the to the skylights and also at the entrance of the project at the alley space of Aqabet al Taqyeh.