The purpose of the project is to design a contemporary accommodation of the monastery of St. Savvas the Sanctified, to serve the monks when they need to stay in the city of Bethlehem, for any monastery matters or reasons of health and bureaucracy.

The monastery, referenced as Lavra as well, founded by Saint Savvas the Sanctified, operates continuously for 1500 years in the desert of Judea in Palestine. This specific place is considered as one of the most important shrines of Orthodox Christianity.

The word Metochi is referred to a site or farm land belonging to a monastery (a monastery’s metochi), in which is usually placed a small chapel and residence for the monks who cultivate this farm. The "Metochion", in ecclesiastical terminology, constitutes a dependent part of the monastery to which it belongs, even if several monks live permanently in it.

The metochi in this project also serves as an intermediary space hosting the monastery pilgrims from around the world. Most non-Arab visitors coming from the airport in Tel Aviv may need to stay overnight in case the borders to the Palestinian territories are closed. The temple which is dedicated to Saint Savva serves as parish. This Metochi is developed through a system of courtyards spaces. The weather of Palestine urges the existence and the development of such architectural tradition. The arrangement of the private restrooms is protected from the places of worship and public reception. The solution aims to isolate symbolically the resident, monk or secular visitor, from the ephemeral pilgrim without entirely exclude their encounter and coexistence.