The Lvov Municipality and the Center for Researching European Cities held an international competition for the re-planning of three Jewish memorial sites: the synagogue plaza, the ancient cemetery, and the Yanovsky work camp. Out of the 70 entries submitted from around the world, first place for the cemetery planning went to Ronit Lombrozo. One of Europe's most important cemeteries, it was active for 450 years (1410-1860). In WW2 the Germans ripped out all the gravestones, turning it into a grove and market at the center of the town. Lombrozo's proposal includes a crossing pathway, two gates, and a memorial wall with engraved names of the deceased.

The Rosh Pina local authority and the Architects' Association have announced a public competition for planning the entrance and escalator to the Rosh Pina reconstructed old site. The competition is open for licensed architects only. Last date for submission: 28/7/11 at 16:00, at the Architects' Association, 03-5188234. 

Salavat Scherbakov, Vasiliy Perfiliev, and Michail Naroditsky - three well-known Russian artists - won the international competition for designing a memorial site in Natanya, commemorating the Red Army's part in the victory over Germany. To be erected on the beach (why?), the proposal depicts the history of the Jews up to the liberation of the few who survived the death camps. Marking significant events in the Jewish history - from the exodus from Egypt, through the destruction of the Temple, to the Holocaust - the site is organized like a maze, opening at its end to an optimistic sight of the sea. The competition has been initiated by the Keren Hayesod, which has allotted a million dollars for its realization. The jury included mainly governmental figures, but also architects Saadia Mandel and David Cassuto.

Coop Himmel(b)lau once again won a competition, this time planning the new Parliament of the Republic of Albania. Here and there reminiscent of Foster's Reichstag building in Berlin, the proposal also attempts to express the régime's transparency, as well as climate components and a relation with the surroundings. With its transparent walls, outside passersby will be able to look inside. 

Events and Exhibitions

Architect Yitshak Yashar has passed away at 91. Considered a link between the founders' generation - Zeev Rechter, Arieh Sharon and Dov Karmi - and the experimentalist one - Yaakov Rechter, Eldar Sharon, Ram Karmi, Zvi Hecker and others - Yashar planned a long line of 'initial' projects, hence sometimes controversial: the Dimona nuclear plant (1963); the Tel Aviv Museum, planned with his partner Dan Eitan (1964); Mexico Building at TAU (1967); Dizengoff  Center, planned with Aliza Toledo - the first Israeli mall, to this day characterized by orientation and movement problems (1977); and the David Towers on Uri St. - regarded the first prestigious towers of Tel Aviv. Yashar had been married to actress Hannah Maron, who later married architect Yaakov Rechter, and to singer Rema Samsonov.

The third Bat Yam Biennale for Urban Landscaping will run this year under the title 'Metamorphosis 2012'. Architects, designers, artists, and whoever feels that urbanism is close to his heart are invited to submit proposals. The idea is to nurture innovative concept modes for developing the city's northern part bordering on Jaffa. Last date for submission: 15/6/2011. Walks through the area will take place in May, with residents' participation; Replies throughout August 2011. www.opencall-batyam.org 

batyam.biennale@gmail.com

The 'New Olds' exhibition at the Holon Design Museum will show some 70 works of designers - most in their 20s-30s - using the past for their present creation. 

The Israeli Cartoon Museum in Holon is hosting two new shows. One is dedicated to the design of Israel's emblem and its uses by caricaturists for the expression of social struggle. The second will present 45 caricatures from the Peri Collection, in the center of which is President Shimon Peres in the years 1950-1980. 

Curators: Yoram Shamir, son of Gavriel Shamir - one of the state emblem designers, and Daniella Santo-Gardosh - daughter of the famous caricaturist Dosh. Closing: 30/7/11. 61 Weizman St., Holon. 03-6521849, www.cartoon.org.il 

The third International Light Festival is taking place in the Old City of Jerusalem on the 15-22.6.11, from 20.00 till midnight. Various structures will be artistically lit up, and they promise impressive audio-visual shows. www.lightinjerusalem.org.il

A walk through the Dizengoff Center basement will take place in the series 'Houses Within' on Saturday 21/5/11. For prior registration: www.batim-il.org. il; www.dizengof-center.co.il. 03-6212400

The 6th Ceramics Biennale is on at Haaretz Museum,running till 15/6/11, with about 100 ceramicists focusing on the connection between the creator and the available  technologies - in ceramics, design and sculpting. 2 Haim Levanon St., Ramat Aviv. 03-6415244

Periscope Gallery for Contemporary Design is holding a one-woman show by young designer Yaarit Mechani, under the titled 'Clear Dream' - a dream where the dreamer can control the events, as a way of settling controversies between the unconscious and reality, through childhood memories, nostalgia and fantasy. Closing: 28/5/11. 176 Ben Yehuda St., Tel Aviv

The Texprocess textile exhibition will be held in Frankfurt on the 24-27/5/11. Focusing on the incorporation of textile into building, new materials and technologies will be exposed. For details regarding additional exhibitions contact the Israeli representative of Frankfurt Messe at 077-5621900  talbar@talbar.co.il. www.messefrankfurt.com

Projects

A new skate-park has opened at the Herzliya Sportek. Surrounded by shaded seating places, the professional skate-park was planned as a dug cement pool, and not in the over-ground conventional deck - a method that might cause flooding problems in the winter. However, for the time being it's a source of enjoyment for young skaters who usually don't break their heads.

Dan Tzur-Lior Wolf Landscape architects

Yad Sarah House, Beer Sheva. Including a physiotherapy center, equipment storehouse and support center for families, the three-storey building is is made of two rectangular wings connected by a pyramid-shaped lobby. The sudden health calamity is poetically expressed by a fractute with a budding flower. 

Armon Architects and Town Planners

Students

The Tiltan College of Design and Visual Communication held a student exhibition for re-branding the firefighters' system. Showing banners, shirts, stickers and others, the exhibition at the Paz Bridge Station was homage to the daring firefighters' role in the Carmel blaze. The show will travel to additional stations, ending up at the Tiltan College. 

Students of the Design School of Ort Singalovski College participated in a competition for 'the futuristic bathroom'. First place went to Shani Conevitz with her 'bathtub-cabinet'. Second place went to Noi Tishler for her 'record-player tap'.

Students of the Design and Technology Center at the Ariel College participated in a four-day workshop around the theme of the Nabataean desert khan. Taking place near Yeroham Lake, the workshop ended in an impressive project exhibition.

Verging on Architecture

Sculptress Nava Shavit-Cohen creates impressive sculptures of bronze, plaster and clay - perfectly suitable for decorating private homes, offices and industrial buildings. Having studied at Avni Institute with the late Michael Kara, Nava has held one-woman shows in Israel and abroad. 04-6533401

That's it for now.

Keep in touch.

Rachel

ruchi@netvision.net.il

illustrations ahead