The Sea of Galilee
seen from the resort
village, Vered
Hagalil.

Desmond Kaplan is
currently planning
the expansion and
upgrading of Vered
Hagalil in
collaboration with
the architectural
firm, Michael
Schwartz &
Associates

 

  

 

The firm recently won the tender to prepare a new Master Plan for the City of Naharia. Work on the project is due to begin within the coming weeks.

 

 

Planning is in progress on a section of the Snir River in the Upper Galilee in collaboration with Landscape Architect Eran Gaash. It includes development for ecotourism that combines tourist activity with environmental rehabilitation, protection and management. The client is the Rivers/Streams and Drainage Authority.

 

 

Work has recently begun on a series of plans for the development of  zones for animal husbandry, mostly sheep and  beef cattle, in the Sahnin and Netufa Valleys. The objectives include providing solutions for animals that are currently housed inside  built areas where they contribute to  environmental and health hazards. Agricultural and ecotourism are part of the planning brief. The clients are the Ministry for the Protection of the Environment and the local authorities.

Desmond Kaplan is assembling a broad based multidisciplinary team to undertake feasibility studies and design pilot/demonstration projects involving food production in urban conurbations. This work is aimed at integrating sophisticated, quality food production into urban infrastructure and systems in an environmentally sustainable manner. It will include water harvesting and recycling, optimization of energy use and local energy production. Current polluting agricultural practice in rural areas needs to be reduced and eventually discontinued allowing agricultural land to be rehabilitated and returned to nature. This can support increased biodiversity and provide additional natural landscapes for recreational use.