Rafi Segal

Rafi Segal is an Associate Professor of Architecture and Urbanism at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he directs the SMArchS Urbanism program. His work bridges architecture and urbanism, focusing on social, environmental, and political dimensions of design. Projects include the Bight: Coastal Urbanism proposal for New York's climate resilience, the Ashdod Museum of Art, and the Palmach History Museum in Tel Aviv.

Segal earned his Professional Degree and M.Sc in Architecture from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and a PhD from Princeton University. His research explores the integration of architecture with urban systems, addressing social, economic, and ecological challenges through multi-scale interventions. He has co-authored critical texts like Cities of Dispersal and A Civilian Occupation, analyzing spatial politics in Israel.

Recent publications focus on coastal urbanism and climate change adaptation, including Coastal Urbanism: Designing the Future (2021) and Bight: Coastal Urbanism (2018). His scientific awards include the Young Artist Award (1996) and winning the International Competition for the National Library of Israel (2012). Segal's practice emphasizes civic space, contextual integration, and critical urban analysis.