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2018
נובמבר
115
אדריכלות ישראלית
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אדריכלות פינית עכשווית
93
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Museum of Polish Jewry, Warsaw
The building is the result of a competition that took place in 2005, with the participation
of leading firms from the museum field such as Studio Daniel Libeskind, Kengo Kuma &
Associates, Zvi Hecker Architects, Peter Eisenman, David Chipperfield and six other groups,
including Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects, whose proposal, "The Red Sea", won first place.
It is unnecessary to mention the part Polish Jews played in WWII – the concentration camps
and, particularly, the heroism of the Warsaw Ghetto Resistance fighters. Prominent against
this background is the elegant modesty conveyed by the proposal, with the intention of
bridging the terrible past and an optimistic future without unnecessary, overloaded rhetoric.
Assimilated in a residential area of blocks characteristic of the fifties’ and sixties’, the cube-like
structure is better understood when approaching the mantle's cladding panels, engraved with
notes resembling a package of letters marked "Polin" in Latin and "Here lies" in Hebrew.
The open plan, multi-purpose interior consists of an undulating, contemporary double
envelope, expressing the spirit of the times and computer capacity, enabling the presentation
to speak for itself.
Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects
Local architects, Kuryłowicz & Associates.
Software developers, Markus Wikar.
As a student, Alvaro Aalto participated
in the Civil War that broke out after the
declaration of independence in 1917
between workers and peasants (the
reds),
who won the support of Russia, and the
upper classes (whites) who viewed
Germany (who supported them) as a
model for their independent republic.
Affiliated with the “whites” Aalto was
undoubtedly influenced by the precise
German discipline that advocated
functional minimalism. This found
expression in about 500 buildings and
furniture that he designed in the course of
his 50 year career – first in a Functional
Style and, later on, in a Monumental Style.
One way or another, most of Aalto's
followers express (existential) awareness
of environment and climate, minimalist
functionality based on energy saving
resources and an increasing Western
influence promoted by spreading
globalization - its prominent expressions
being high technology, smart materials
that recently yielded the digital design.
A significant factor that contributes to
Finland’s impressive achievements is
that the government method is balanced
by a semi-presidential system, whereby
the president is responsible for foreign
policy, while internal affairs are managed
by a cabinet elected by the democratic
parliament (Eduskunta) and the judicial
system includes a special court that is
allowed to dismiss the government.
The projects presented ahead were
conducted by 4 leading Finnish firms
that to a reasonable extent, elaborate
on contemporary Finish architectural
insights.
Heikkinen-Komonen Architects
Established in 1974 by Mikko Heikkinen
and Markku Komonen, the Helsinki-
based firm has accomplished important
projects such as the Heureka Science
Centre in Vantaa, the Rovaniemi Airport,
the Finnish Embassy in Washington and
a large number of schools, including the
Aalto University School of Art and Design
in Helsinki.
Their three projects presented here – the
Flooranaukio Housing Block, the Center
for Biology, and the Culture Center in
Kangasala, demonstrate a contemporary
interpretation of Alto’s concepts: an
intelligent assimilation of economic
minimalism and abstract thought, through
advanced technology.
Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects
Established in Helsinki in 1997 by Ilmari
Lahdelma and Rainer Mahlamäki, the
firm has mainly designed educational
buildings - from schools to universities, all
of which successfully integrate communal
activities. Employing about 35 designers,
the firm has been invited to participate
in prestigious, worldwide competitions,
in London, Riga, Poland, Jordan and
Australia. Many of its projects stemmed
from winning competitions, the most
prominent of which is the Museum of
Polish Jewry in Warsaw, presented here.
JKMM Architects
Established in 1998, JKMM is a group of
more than 90 architects and designers,
operating successfully under the slogan:
"We design buildings that generate a
sense of solidarity and open society,
buildings that seek practical, empathic
and logical solutions".
During its 20 years of operation, the
Office has accomplished a large number
of housing blocks, schools, museums,
hospitals and libraries, the most important
of which is the Main Library in Seinajoki
that is presented ahead.
Anttinen Oiva Architects
Established in Helsinki in 2006 by Selina
AnttinenandVesaOiva, thefirm's declared
philosophy is "to create contemporary
architecture linked to a technical and
conceptual context". Among their better
known projects presented ahead, are the
Poltinaho residential area in Hämeenlinna
and the Helsinki University library.
Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects