Reinventing Petah Tikva 2030: A Minecraft-Powered Vision of the Future

This month, the city of Petah Tikva celebrated a remarkable milestone in digital learning and urban innovation with the grand finale of the “Reinventing Petah Tikva 2030” project, powered by Minecraft Education Edition. Hosted at Haim Hefer School, the event brought together students, educators, and special guests to showcase a year-long journey of creativity, collaboration, and futuristic thinking. This exciting initiative was a joint adventure between the Innovation House, Arcademy – an early stage startup for game-based learning – and the Elementary Education Department of the Petah Tikva Municipality.

Sixteen primary schools from across Petah Tikva participated in this ambitious initiative. Each school was assigned a real city site to reimagine and redesign for the year 2030. The students were challenged to balance two key criteria in their projects: Closeness to Reality: maintaining architectural and geographical accuracy and Innovation and Sustainability: integrating forward-thinking, eco-friendly solutions.

Throughout the school year, students engaged in deep research, urban planning, and AI-based problem-solving. They collaborated in teams, developed independent learning skills, and tackled real-world challenges—all within the immersive world of Minecraft.

The final event was a celebration of student achievement and imagination. Teams presented their futuristic cityscapes to an enthusiastic audience, sharing their visions for a smarter, greener Petah Tikva. The atmosphere was electric, especially with the appearance of two of Israel’s most beloved YouTubers—Or Zuti and Meital Atiya (Rainbow Queen)—who inspired the young creators and added a touch of star power to the day.

A major highlight was the launch of the official Minecraft model of Petah Tikva, which will serve as the foundation for Season 2 of the competition, inviting even more students to shape the city’s digital future. 

 And the Winners Are…

The judges had a tough decision, but three projects stood out for their excellence:

- 1st Place – Uri Orbach School
Project: Kiryat Aryeh Train Station
A visionary transportation hub blending smart mobility with green design.

- 2nd Place – Yesodot & Korczak (Special Education) Schools
Project: Founders Square
A collaborative and inclusive redesign of a historic city center. 

This project is a shining example of how digital tools like Minecraft Education Edition can empower students to become active designers of their communities. With creativity, teamwork, and a strong educational framework, the future of Petah Tikva—and its young citizens—looks brighter than ever.

More details and visuals from the event can be found on the official project site: Pte.arcademy.co.il

Author: Karina Batat