Readers Write
A
small (mostly religious) number of readers have complained about the
"expressive" sketch by architect Shmuel Groberman, depicting the
entrepreneurs as a "herd" of men "comparing sizes" (issue
no.50).
We
apologize if it was not distinctively clear that the comparison in the sketch
was that of the size of their buildings and not any other urban organ. It will
(probably) never happen again.
Yaron-Aris
landscape architectural firm has (rightfully) complained of their unnoted
contribution as landscape architects of Beer Shevas Kiryat Hamemshala complex
(issue no. 50).
We
apologize and thank you for the important comments, we will make sure to name
the landscape architects of every project we publish from now on and you can
check us.
Prizes and Competitions
Otzar
Sea Industries together with the Architects Association have announced a public
competition for the planning of the development of the open space in Tel Aviv
Port. The competition is open to architects and landscape architects, as well
as a special program for students. The panel of judges: Naomi Angel (chairman),
Danny Kaiser, Daniella Possek, Zadik Elyakim, Perla Kaufman, Haim Dotan and
Ariye Gonen (panel clerk), landscape architect Yehudit Green and accountant
Moshe Hendels. First Prize: $15,000, second prize - $10,000, third prize -
$5,000, note of praise $5,000. First prize in the student program - $2,000,
second prize - $1,000, third prize - $500 and the last date for submitting
proposals: 12.01.03. Members of the association and students can purchase the
competition guidelines at the Architects House 14 Migdalor Street, Jaffa,
for 200 NIS. The full price is 300 NIS. Details: 03-5188234.
There
have recently been three closed competitions for the planning of Haifa
University facilities. Bracha and Michael Chyutin won the competition for the
design of the Student House out of the ten candidates who participated. The
5,000 square meter building will house the offices of the dean, the Student
Union and many additional student activities. The site is located at the edge
of the cliffside road, on a steep slope over the bay. Chyutins proposal is a
rectangular prism composed of two main wings the deans wing and that of the
student bodies, and it is hard not to notice the clear archetypal style adopted
by the firm since their design of the Theatre in Givataim.
The
Lerman firm won the competition for the expansion of the library. The library,
originally planned by Niemeyer in 1960, will be renovated and expanded within
the borders of the university tower podium, known for the public uproar it
caused at the time of its construction. The renovations will enlarge the
library to suit the needs of the universitys emergent campus, and will upgrade
the computerized information system and its accessibility. There will be a
minimum level of intervention in the original structure, and the work will be
focused around the redefinition of the relation between the interior and
exterior whilst maintaining the Brutalist buildings historical significance.
Nadler-Nadler-Bixon-Gil and Roni Siebert also entered the competition.
A
proposal submitted by architect Haim Kehat of Mansfield Architects, took first
prize in the competition for the design of the Artists House and a layout plan
for the development of the north-western section of the campus. The plan
proposes an additional square to connect the Hecht Museum and the planned
complex. A number of ethical questions are raised concerning the common issues
in all three competitions: the fact that Kehat was on the judging panel for the
library competition, the list of judges was never published, the competition
was held off the record, and as a result the judges comments have remained
hidden to this day. Competition is an important incentive, but so is public
duty.
The
I.D.F. Handicapped Veterans Association held a competition for the planning of
two new branches of Beit Halochem Recuperative Hostel one in Ashdod and the
other in Beer Sheva. Architect Moshe Tzur will design the project in Ashdod
(planning team Moshe Tzur, Nilli Chen, Danny Ochana, Shmaya Tsarfati). The
project in Beer Sheva will be planned by. Kimmel Eshkolot Architects (associate
architect Ilan Karmi) in collaboration with architect Moran Palmoni. The
building is composed of two massive wings connected by a transparent passage
that also houses the swimming pool.
Moshe
Tzurs proposal is based on two axes of activity that intersect and border the
inner courtyard that faces the sea from the side. Unlike the Kimmel Eshkolot
proposal, Tzur placed the pool outside the building and transformed the
encompassing walls into one of the buildings beauty spots. Both projects are
based on the same programme.
A
closed competition for the planning of a retirement home in Taibeh was won by
architects Tommy Rigler, Osvaldo Stav and Fuad Gabara. The planning of a
retirement home in the Arab sector is an innovation which can be interpreted as
the result of a change in the sectors attitude towards the concept of
retirement homes and their elderly population. Due to restricted availability
of building sites, apartments are growing smaller and it is becoming
increasingly difficult to provide proper living conditions for the elderly
within the family.This served a guideline for the development of the programme,
composed of four care units in keeping with supporting logistic functions. The
architects intention was to give the building a "non-institutional
feeling that will enable smooth adaptation into new surroundings and
lifestyle".
Events
It
seems that the Architects Association is finally returning "home".
Following a series of meetings held by Chairman Uri Zrubavel, the Chairman of
the Governing Association, architect Adam Mazor and Chairman of the Engineers
and Architects Union Yoav Sarne, have agreed that the Architects Association,
which retired several years ago due to cutbacks dictated by the Governing
Association, will in fact return home. This reminds me of a (true) short story.
A sheep and a wolf happily walked arm in arm through the forest. A crow who
flew overhead asked with wonder, "Where are you guys going?"
"To have lunch", said the sheep.
Two
promising events have lately occurred in the Technion Faculty of Architecture.
One is the appointment of Zvi Efrat to head the Faculty of Bezalel, and the
other is the election of Professor Edna Shaviv as the first woman Dean of the
faculty. The second event reminds me of the story of Adam and Eve, in which God
one day arrives with a choice of two "spare parts". He explains to
them that the first part is an organ that enables one to urinate in almost
every position on almost everything whilst standing up! Adam quickly grabbed
the first organ attached it to his body and ran all over the forest urinating
on every tree. Poor Eve was left with the the brain. Because Edna Shaviv is
also "Ms. Climate", there is good chance that the temporary
"Brut" disturbance lead by Efrat will be replaced with climate-aware
architectural thinking. Good luck to Zvi and Edna.
The
Annual Landscape Architects Convention took place in October at the
"Center for Beautiful Israel". Among the speakers, were landscape
architects Gideon Sarig, Shlomo Aronson, Yael Moriah, Shlomo Zehavi, Aliza
Braudo, Tali Tuch, Daphna Greenstein and Tali Mozes-Alon. Most of them referred
to the local design vocabulary in the hope of reassessment of the processes
undergone by Israeli society. Whereas general opinion urged simplicity and
cleanliness, the guest of honor Professor Kenneth I. Helfhand spoke of
"the multi-faceted beauty of Israeli society". Helfhand has just
completed the book (with the help of a number of association members)
"Dreaming Gardens: Landscape Architecture and the Making of Modern
Israel". Reported (faithfully) by landscape architect Aliza Braudo.
on the Verge of Architecture
Artist Orna Ben Ami reappears
with a new exhibition at "Beit Gavriel" in July 2002, entitled
"Soft". Her works express the softness of metal in comparison to the
power of femininity.
Exhibitions
The
current exhibition at the Architects House gallery attempts to direct attention
towards the garden of the residential apartment building, which in general is
considered trivial and rarely the subject of debate. Architects Shelly Cohen
and Naama Meishar criticize
Modernist concepts for its insensitivity to non-functional spaces. It is a fact
that many apartment gardens are neglected and it is time to relate to the
subject. The exhibition will be open until 19/12/02.
"From
Nahum Guttmans donkey to the Messiahs: the image of the donkey in Israeli
culture", is an exhibition held by artist Siona Shimshi at the Nahum
Guttman Museum. As usual, very interesting and definitely worth a visit. 21
Rokach Street, Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv.
The
exhibition "The Renewal of Bauhaus in Tel Aviv" is an attempt to
present Tel Aviv as the "capitol of International Architecture". The exhibition will be held at the
"Bauhaus Center" at 155 Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv, December 2002
to January 2003. At the same time, Tel Aviv Museum will be exhibiting the works
of photographer Gunter Prag, who photographed Bauhaus buildings all over the
country. Details: 03-5220249.
In Search of RELATIVES
Academic
(f, 1.82 ) is interested in someone who is still impressed by exterior beauty
but knows how to recognize and appreciate interior beauty.
P.O.B 22177, Tel Aviv.
Translations
Professional
Hebrew/English translating for architects. Architectural documents,
international competition presentations, oversees architectural projects.
Telfax: 03-5739665; Cell: 051-356100.
