אדריכלות ישראלית

Architecture of Israel #

119

November

2019

WhatsApping with Dean Yasha Grobman

page

english readers

accredited architect? This is exactly

where the system fails! Would anyone

imagine the Bar Association or the

Institute of Accountants requiring

some official to write their agenda?

In other words, in order to become

an architect at the Technion, does

one require a second degree, despite

the fact that a first degree is legally

sufficient?

It’s not a matter of sufficient or not, but the

insight that the Technion graduate needs

a broader knowledge than that acquired

today in other schools. That is, apart

from providing a second degree, we are

still working to improve the first degree

program. I believe that like other schools

throughout the world, the Technion has

been swept away by subjects connected

more to the Humanities at the expense of

technological subjects and so we are re-

assessing the balance.

But I still want to focus on the first

degree, which according to the Law

of Engineers and Architects enables

architects to register and practice. I

can’t let go of this issue because, in my

opinion, this is precisely the problem

of the architectural profession. The

profession must be in the hands of

architects and not in the hands of an

official, no matter how respected he

is! It doesn’t happen in other countries

like England, the U.S, Spain, or even

Argentina, and there is no reason

why it should happen here. Aren’t we

avoiding the real problem?

Sorry I can’t provide headlines, but

this is the truth. The goal of our second

degree is professional specialization

as in other countries. We believe that

today a professional architect requires

a specialist/Master training. We didn’t

invent it, second degrees exist in many

universities throughout the world.

Correct. But what you are actually

implying is that the first degree is

insufficient for a licensed architect.

I didn’t say that. I said that the faculty

thinks more is necessary. We want our

graduates to lead and excel. We believe

that this will also contribute to the quality

of the profession.

I think that what you have said shows

an entrenchment in an academic ivory

tower, and I have no doubt that if I were

to ask any other senior member of the

faculty, I would receive less avoidant

answers. The best example of this is

your response regarding the registrar,

whose very intervention in the

curriculum of schools of architecture

indicates the failure of architects to

lead their own profession.

I invite you to approach other senior

members of staff. I'm sure you will get

different answers and, as far as I’m

concerned, this is a positive thing. We

strive for pluralism and diverse opinions.

I’m leading the faculty in a particular

direction, and I’m certain that the next

dean will lead it in his own way.

I will not do so as I am interested in your

opinion as Dean of the leading Faculty

in Israel, and I have no doubt that there

is a direct correlation between the field

of practice and schools of architecture.

And rest assured, everyone who is

not entrenched in an academic ivory

tower, including Architect David Knafu,

Chair of the Architects’ Association, is

extremely aware of that.

We are by no means entrenched in an

academic ivory tower - the opposite in

fact. We are talking of an insight that

facilitates a long view, supported by

knowledge, specialization and time to

ask questions and develop answers that

cannot always be asked on the ground

due to lack of time and resources. In

recent years we have employed the

best architects in the country (including

architects from David Knafu’s office); our

representatives sit on all the professional

committees in professional organizations

and in government; we cooperate with

municipalities and other planning bodies

in Israel and promote projects together

with large companies in the building

industry. I don’t see any disconnection

from the practice.

I believe that education in general and

architecture in particular is in transition

as an outcome of the enormous shift in

modelling, production and communication

technologies. And the Technion, like other

universities round the world, is attempting

to redefine the way we should teach

architecture in the 21th century.

Architect Prof. Yasha Grobman in his office

at the Technion.

אדריכל פרופ׳ יאשה גרובמן במשרדו בטכניון.