Prizes and Competitions Architect Ada Karmi-Melamede won the
competition by invitation for the master-plan of the Yad Ben-Zvi campus and
Beit Hahalutzot (The Pioneer House) in Jerusalem
Prizes and Competitions
Architect Ada Karmi-Melamede won the competition by invitation for the
master-plan of the Yad Ben-Zvi campus and Beit Hahalutzot (The Pioneer House)
in Jerusalem.
Located in Rehavia, the campus will consist of several existing buildings - the
Valero House designed in the 1920s by Yehoshua Salant and inhabited in the
1950s by President Ben-Zvi, several huts, and Beit Hahalutzot - a building
designated for conservation, designed by Genia Averbuch in 1942. The programme
includes a new auditorium, cafeteria, library, bookshop, classrooms, and
offices. Other participants were Reznik Architects, architect Ruth Lahav-Rigg
and architect Yaakov Molcho.
All participants strived to define a connecting theme that would transform
the different structures into a cohesive campus in the quiet neighborhood.
Planned in 1923 by architect Richard Kaufman as a garden city, Rehavia is
considered a fine example of the Modern era of the 1930s, mainly because it is
based on moderate locality.
Karmi-Melamede uniquely decided to develop the open
space rather than the structures themselves. She preferred to build the
permitted 500 sq.m. mainly underground, leaving all the additions clear and
transparent. Two axes of movement, along which all public functions are to be
placed, will intersect at the conserved building - thus emphasizing its
importance on the campus.
Architect Ruth Lahav-Riggs proposal focused on
preserving the entrance from the KuzariGarden, creating a
"movement-generating" square on the axis between Valero House and
Beit Hahalutzot. Lahav-Rigg placed the entrance to the auditorium on Ibn Gvirol Street
to enhance the campus connection to the street.
David and Baruch Reznik (in collaboration with Archetype Architects - Yael
Padan, Udi Manzuri) concentrated on strengthening the dialogue between Beit
Hahalutzot and the neighborhood. The plan called for the preservation of the
façade, in view of its historical importance. Reznik used the existing
interior courtyard as a focus for interaction between students and visitors.
Facing it are the new auditorium, the cafeteria and a bookshop which they
located on the ground level of the conserved building. Resnik placed most of
the additions in the western section of the campus, emphasizing their presence
with different finishing materials.
An international competition was recently held, to plan the courthouses of Madrid. The intent was
to join together functions that are currently dispersed in numerous locations.
The fourteen new buildings were placed on a rectangular site beside the
airport. Israeli architect Osvaldo Stav made it to the second phase.
The recipient of this years Wolf Award is architect Jean Nouvel, for his
"ability to create urban contexts based on the temporal randomness".
Nouvel arrogantly displayed his (not at all random) architectural
"magic" in all the Israeli schools of architecture, to a masochistic
audience. It is time for the benefactors of awards to quit pumping up the
already over-inflated egos, talented though they may be, and to invest more in
the human dimension of architecture.
Architect Gaby Schwartz won the competition for the design of a library for
the JordanValleyCollege.
Other finalists were: Koriel-Amar Architects, Vardi Architects, Salomon
Architects, architect Yehuda Aridor, and architect Monica Gleit. The winning
entry incorporates the topography to enrich the building with a view of the Sea of Galilee.
Events
Two important events, which deal with the heart of
the profession of architecture, are taking place these days. The first is an
attempt to unify the various architectural organizations, and to require
passing an exam before the title of "permitted architect" is granted.
Architect Uri Shitrit, head of the Council of Engineering and Architecture,
deserves credit for finally lifting the gauntlet that Ami Ran, editor of AI and
the initiator of the idea, has laid out for the last several years.
The second action is another attempt by the
Architects Registrar to gain power, in the absence of a worthy union of
architects. It is not too late - the two operations could still be joined.
Architect Dov Sosnovsky has passed away. We send our condolences to his
partner and wife, architect Silvina Sosnovsky, and to his family.
Students
The Department of Architecture in Wizo Haifa College of Design, has been
accredited to grant its Bachelors a combined degree in architecture and
education. Fourth year students of this school displayed their works at the ArtGallery
in the town of Tamra in the Galilee.
In addition to the fine humus generously dished out in the festive event, some
fine works were also displayed; for instance, student Dana Glucks project
suggested the use of the Khan as an inspiration for her adult education school.
The final project of Tel-AvivUniversity graduate Naama
Sarid exemplifies how students fail to actualize their talents, through no
fault of their own. Entitled "Imagination", her beautiful project
aimed to create an urban place for interaction through the "experience of
wandering, as an antithesis to the Ayalon highway". However, her ideas
could not materialize, as her formalistic thought outweighed her doing.Instructors - wake up before the final
presentation. Thats your job.
A friendlier project was Dani Cohens "The House in Ein Hud". As
the pastoral (aerial) view of Ein Hud belies its political reality, Dani tried
to simulate how, given freedom, the village would have expanded traditionally
along the topography, to create a protective boundary on one side, and a public
domain on the other.
A well invested effort, yet still too Israeli.
An exhibition by graduates of the Design Arts program at the Holon College
of Technology displayed a wide variety of work, some exhibiting fresh concepts
of design.
Final project of ArielCollege student Tomer Naui - a rehabilitation center
for the handicapped in the industrial area of Bat Yam, is based on the idea that "if
the public does not want to make places accessible to the handicapped, the
handicapped will create a space that is accessible to the public". Nauis
project aims to create interaction with as many possible people, by offering
the surrounding neighborhood cultural and educational activities.
Eran Shaked of Ariel College deals with the popular theme of Kikar Atarim.
His project manages, once and for all,to open the terrible barrier and bring the beach back to Tel Aviv
residents. Shakeds idea is based on creating a continuous string of public
spaces that accompany the descent to the beach, while turning Hayarkon Street
into a promenade for vehicles and pedestrians.
