Architecture of Israel - latest issue

BUILD YOUR HOME

WHILE YOU'RE YOUNG

Build Your Own Home neighborhoods, once considered the epitome of all that is wrong in Israeli architecture, sprouted like mushrooms after the rain and allowed everyone to fulfill his own architectural fantasy. Along with styles inspired by imported magazines, "Build Your Own" homes usually ignored surrounding constructions and the landscape, and any sensitive soul passing by was prickled by the proliferation of uncensored forms. After harsh criticism, from us and others, we are finally beginning to see the buds of long overdue change. This is particularly so in a small number of second generation neighborhoods, such as those adjacent to the agricultural cooperative settlements of Kfar Hess, Rishpon and Michmoret. Is this Ideal Architecture? Not yet.But definitely a process that we can live with. The improvement is the fruit of the looms of a generation of young architects not raised in the International style, who have succeeded in developing a more local architecture. Credit is due not only to the young architects, but also to young home-owners who seek beauty but settle for what they can afford.

And so this somewhat contrived architecture was born, based not on nouveaux-riches grandiose dreams, but on consumer and economic considerations. The Post-Modern architecture, characteristic of the former generation of "Build Your Own" neighborhoods, developed as a reaction to the monotonous nature of Modern architecture that sent the erroneous message that building cheap meant building ugly. Fans of Post-Modern architecture mistakenly assumed, that expensive building meant beautiful building. The collective aspiration of veteran architects to cancel the message of the Post-Modernists was interpreted as a return to Modern architecture. Perhaps this attitude delayed the awaited change, because the public was not willing to return to something that was no longer relevant. What has happened? The young residents of todayπs "Build Your Own" neighborhoods hire young architects for budgetary reasons. The architects in turn make every effort to create something to be proud of. The results are still pretentious at times, but a recognizable succession of buildings - not necessarily in uniform style - has begun to take shape. The most prominent of these expressions is the abandonment of the concept of the white "so-called" Modern house in favor of smooth colored plaster and its promise of long-lasting vigor. Instead of the familiar prickly shapes, there are fewer angles and less cheap vulgarity. What next for the "Build Your Own"? The total absence of urban planning and lack of clear visual guidelines towards the creation of a cultured aesthetic environment remain major stumbling blocks. Even in the presence of planning guidelines intended to prevent chaos, people do as they see fit. Paradoxically, these guidelines represent the root of the problem. The inexplicable obligation to integrate stone or Jerusalem stone in supporting walls for example, creates strident disharmony between the finishing materials and the street's aspired personality. The planner, attempting to create harmony between the fence and the building, causes discord with neighboring constructions. The role of urban planning is to find a compromise between the individual front of the buildings and the general appearance of the street. The most prominent expression of foolish ignorance of the street's appearance and its public significance is expressed in the obligation to build covered parking spots, so that the "appearance of a car parked near the sidewalk will not ruin someone's house". The general result is the sealing off of the street, detaching the houses from it. The absurd result is the deliberate ruin of the street by those responsible for urban aesthetics. A visit to the new neighborhoods of Mevaseret Zion, Rosh H'aiyn, Modi'in, or any other massive housing project, reveals the urban damage that directly results from inappropriate guidelines in the urban master-plan. The uniform model repeats itself and creates a boring and distant environment; behind these "screening walls" the appearance of the house is of no significance anyway. Perhaps the most important message is that the style should come from the people and not from the architects. In spite of attempts to moderate individual expression, home-owners are still not prepared to settle for white or grey houses. The suggestion to return to Modernism, in the best-case scenario, or to Brutalist architecture, in the worst-case scenario, stands no chance.