Shikmona, Roof Garden       The garden was designed along a main path connecting the government buildings compound to the entrance of the Haifa harbor. The garden, due to its special location and character, is a reminiscent of an historic neighborhood of the city.This aspect was emphasized by irregular lines of the garden walls, by the paving patterns and by the use of traditional materials such as carved stone and copper. The park acts as an open museum for the history of Haifa. The main path in the park passes through "gates", copper arches on stone pillars. Under the gates, the pavement incorporates ceramic tiles printed with historic maps and photos describing the city of Haifa, throughout it's historical periods. On each pillar there is a metal plate with an inscription describing the "picture" next to it. A light fixture placed within the copper-plated arc on top of each "gate", lights up the ceramic pictures during the night. The technical structures and air ventilation openings, required on the roof top of an underground parking lot, were designed in the "spirit" of the park. The walls were covered with natural carved stone and with traditionally colored mineral plaster. The latticework was designed with a traditional pattern of metalworking, and the roofs were covered with copper plate. The flora in the garden was planned with consideration of the character of the park and its function. A "formal" line of trees accompanies the main path. The vegetation planted was aimed at the creation of oazis within the city center. Project Sponsors: The Directorate of the Government Buildings Planning Office.