אדריכלות ישראלית

Architecture of Israel #

119

November

2019

WhatsApping with Dean Yasha Grobman

page

english readers

Architect Dr. Ami Ran

chat of the season

whatsapping with dean grobman

teach and practice

Among the five accredited Schools

of Architecture in Israel, there has

always been a significant preference

for the Technion. Thus, for instance,

according to law, the Engineering

and Architecture Council should

include two representatives from the

Technion, one from Tel Aviv University

and one… from the University of the

Negev that doesn't even have a School

of Architecture. This is not only a

privilege for the Technion, but makes

it responsible for leading the rapidly

declining architectural profession.

I suggest we first agree on the facts.

I am not familiar with the distressing

situation you describe. In my opinion

the architectural profession is certainly

on the rise. And as for the Engineering

and Architecture Council, I believe

that the historical appointment of two

representatives from the Technion is still

justified due to its number of full-time

researchers in comparison with any other

school of architecture.

I’m sure that by the end of our chat, we

will agree not only on the facts but their

you personally lead is computerized

robotics. Where do you predict this

product will lead architecture in

general and conventional architecture

in particular?

Robotic development is going in two main

directions: The automation of building

processes, and the ability to produce

amorphous complex geometries for a

variety of purposes.

You came to the faculty of architecture

in Bezalel as a student during the

nineties’ after serving as a pilot in

the army. Were you in time to plan

buildings on sketching paper?

I worked in offices where we planned and

sketched with pencil and rapidograph

and I still do it in addition to computer

planning. I believe that every medium has

its advantages, and an architect should

know how to benefit from them – very

much like an artist who uses his full range

of colors, choosing both the right color

and the suitable brush for each painting.

Which project are you most proud of,

It is no secret that the status of the architectural profession has declined dramatically in

recent decades. On one hand, harsh permit regulations that burden the architect with a

score of consultants, and on the other, economically oriented entrepreneurs who dictate

the course of developments according to benefit considerations; project managers that

have replaced the architect as “head of the builders”; and schools of architecture that

organise their syllabus according to the will of the Registrar – who is not part of the

architecture profession. Over and above all this is the Architects Association's lack of

statutory authority. To discuss these issues, Architect Prof. Yasha Grobman – Dean of

the Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning at the Technion, joined me for a WhatsApp

chat. Since he is considered a leading advocate for computerized robotic design, and

in light of the subject’s increasing popularity in architectural schools throughout the

world, I expressed my concern that basic architectural design might be marginalized at

the expense of cardinal issues such as climate and environment awareness.

implications as well. Everything I’ve

written is generally known, from the

lecturers at the schools of architecture,

to the reality on the ground. It’s no

secret that today, architects are

struggling to survive on a minimal

wage, whereas, up to the seventies’,

architects like Eldad Sharon, Yaakov

Rechter, Rami Karmi, Yitshak Yashar,

Avraham Yaski and others who were

considered "gods" both socially

and economically. But, in light of

the Technion's unbalanced status in

relation to other architecture schools

(and the source of this is irrelevant)

what obligation do you believe the

Technion has to raise the prestige of

the architectural profession?

The Faculty of Architecture and Town

Planning is not only the first architecture

faculty but also the only one to lead

advanced research on an international

level with four doctoral tracks. Thus, we’re

aware of the obligation to lead others,

inter alia by fostering and expanding

graduates' professional knowledge.

As I mentioned, one of the projects