Architects Create - אדריכלות ישראלית Architecture of Israel #131 November 2022 | | 94 I am trying to refrain frommaking pompous theoretical claims. But if you insist, I'd say I keep an open mind to design unusual solutions in order to create my own design ideas, especially in low-budget projects. I enjoy most designing for non-profit organizations, such as the renovation of the Department of Social Services I am currently working on in Ramat Gan, or a hostel for youth-at-risk I designed in Haifa. And what about the other sectors? I truly believe that particularly in this sector, both workers and service recipients deserve good architecture. Actually... who doesn’t Architect Irit Abir illustrates and uses industrial ready-mades and found objects to assemble amusing figurines and other items. Irit teaches interior design at the Open University, curates exhibitions and dedicates most of her design work to improve the architectural environment for those who most need it. "Growing up, I have always made drawings, assemblages and compositions, so choosing to study architecture at the Technion was the obvious choice for me. My father, Prof. David Abir, was of one of the pioneers of aeronautics and space research in Israel, amongst the founders of the faculty of aeronautics in the Technion. My grandfather, Yehuda Ziegelroit, was born here, after his grandparents and parents immigrated in the first Aliya and were amongst the founders of the first settlements. As a child, my grandfather was noticed for his talents and skills and was destined to go to Paris to study engineering but remained at home, as World War I exploded in Europe. Acquiring a Model-T Ford, he became one of the first car owners in Palestine. After he replaced it with a Dodge, he started driving passengers under the name "Yehuda", which later became the co-op "Darom Yehuda", eventually merging into Egged. architects create irit abir - planned improvisations Dr. Hillit Mazor ׳חרקים׳. למטה: אורית ארנון.צילום: Your pride in your roots is no doubt empowering. Does it help you make a living as an architect? Practically, this is what I do. Here and there I also work as an interior design teacher, an illustrator and curator. What is "interior design", and why do those who don’t really understand the subject decisively object to the term "interior architecture"? The distinction between the two is only meant to prevent those who never graduated from architecture school to present themselves as architects. And as a qualified architect, how would one distinguish between the two? Inmy eyes, interior architectureand interior design are integral parts of the same discipline; while interior design deals with the visual elements that affect the user’s spacial experience, interior architecture comprises all the fundamental elements that effect the interiors of buildings and the way one experiences them, such as partitions, staircases, the way daylight penetrates to the inside, etc. At any rate, I believe that it all comes from same mind and hand. You are beginning to sound too serious, relative to your humorous, almost poetic creative assemblages. Do you write or play music? I don't play any instrument, but I like music, especially jazz. Jazz is the art of improvisation… does it also characterize your architectural work? Improvisation in jazz is not really random. Musicians work within modules, responding to the subject very accurately. Similarly, my improvisations are very much pre-planned. Don't planning and improvisation contradict each other? My compositions are never impulsive or a result of a whim. I spend much time collecting junk, examining it and reflecting before actually assembling. It happens only after careful thought. I collect interesting ready-mades, parts waiting for new connections... Sometimes I look for specific parts to complete the idea. w Your designed improvisations are rather amusing. How do you use this in your architectural work? Below: Insects. Photo: Orit Arnon.
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