News, Press and Information

An interview with TheMarker regarding the future of city life.
Thank you to Osnat Nir for an in-depth and important article.

An Excerpt:

Prof. Architect Yael Moriah welcomes the change created by the COVID-19 Epidemic, and believes that the momentum of cultivating public space and nature in cities must continue: “The bench has become the living room, and the grass – the dining table.” The Corona Virus has created a drastic change in urban life, shifting most of its daily activities to open public areas. Dating, sports, hanging out in pubs, work meetings, and learning – all moved to the street. However, the forced change, which was born out of the difficulties of the crisis, was perceived by Prof. Yael Moriah, a landscape architect and expert in urban planning and urban planning, as a blessing.

See full article here.

Dizengoff Circle photographed by Guy Privas, as part of the annual Local Testimony exhibit.

The 17th edition of the Local Testimony photojournalism exhibition opens on December 24, and as befits a year of social distancing, many of the pictures were taken using a drone.

Because of the coronavirus, this year the competition, which features Israeli and Palestinian photographers, will be held outdoors at Tel Aviv’s Mediton complex.

Listen to Yael Moria talk about Landscape Architecture and the curation of time and space with Ruthie Keren on her podcast, ‘Behind the Scenes’.

“The street. Public space. Trees. Sidewalks. Flashlights, road signs, roads, parks, benches, squares, the connection between the sea and the city, and even the appearance of a prison, all have a direct impact on our lives, both physically and mentally. Prof. Yael Moriah talks about Dizengoff Square, Zalmon Prison, Ashdod Beach, Bat Yam benches, Gordon Pool and the Old City of Beit She’an, and reveals the dilemmas between opposing needs (secular, ultra-Orthodox, children, dogs, homeless people and mothers) that translate into architectural choices.”

Credits:
‘Behind the Scenes’ Podcast –  Interviewer and Editor: Ruthie Keren
Radio Station – Kan Culture
Broadcasting Corporation – Kan

For the listening link, click here.

“Oasis in the Quarry: an urban park will be constructed in the abandoned quarry of Be’er Sheva

In this place, the ancient Ottoman’s mined stones for their ancient city. However decades later, the Israelis that abandoned the Quarry left it as an open wound. Soon  this place will be renovated into an amazing park”

For the full article, click here.

“After years of neglect: the Asbestos Valley in Kiryat Hayovel is towards a revolution. The Asbestos park between Kiryat Hayovel and Kiryat Monham will be built by the JNF with an investment of NIS 70 million. The park will include an artificial lake, park and recreation facilities and more.”

Just in time for the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus School, the city of Tel Aviv has successfully completed the restoration of Dizengoff Circus, designed by architect Genia Averbuch — likely the world’s only “Bauhaus Piazza” — to its original design. Regarded as the traditional center of the White City, it is striking for its simple design: a round space, surrounded by nearly identical buildings, featuring curvilinear horizontal slit balconies. The simple, elegant architectural language of this circle makes it a paradigm of local modernist architecture.

Dizengoff Square was inaugurated in 1938. Over the years it underwent many changes, but continued to play a central role in the ‘White City’. In addition to its architectural importance, it was the center of vibrant social life that shaped the unique character of Tel Aviv. In 2016, the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality decided to renovate the square and restore it to its original design, by the landscape architecture firm “Moria Sekely”.

The exhibition reviews the history of Dizengoff Square and celebrates its renewal. The exhibition consists of b/w and color photos, sketches and original vintage items (on display from June – Oct 2019 in the Bauhaus Center, Dizengoff St 77, Tel Aviv).

Text: Harrison Goldman
Graphic Design: Michal Karp
Exhibition Design: Michal Karp
Curator and Producer: Alisa Veksler

Source: Bauhaus Center Gallery

“Our office addresses hybrid design challenges that reflect the complexity of contemporary life and its varied spatial impact. We collaborate with a range of stakeholders to solve complex challenges, fostering innovation in public spaces and creating new urban and natural environments.”

See our office featured in Landezine’s Office Profile Awards. 

Published in Haaretz Newspaper

by Amir Lotan of Studio MA, Bat Yam, 2010

for Landezine Magazine

Construction and urban development often have unpredictable and fragmented side effects, the sum of which form specific landscapes. As a society, we tend to ignore, repress and suppress the consequences of our own building actions on a space, denying our responsibility. These consequences mainly exist outside traditional urban life and have unique identities, aesthetics and statutory definitions. A common “consequence” is the plant-life that grows on the edge of built sites. These margins become habitats for various species and plants that thrive and grow in that particular environment. Predominant to said habitats are invasive and potentially harmful plant species, which may threaten surrounding ecosystems. In most cases, when these ruderal plants appear, we try to get eliminate them. However, are these definitions relevant in the context of built and landscaped urban environments?

בריכת גורדון

Public Time Private Time

In an era of social distancing, what does a new public-private place look like? Through the ancient offering of water, we invited viewers to literally cross the threshold between public and private space, into our studio’s inner garden. Through an exhibit of domestic items, visitors were able to gather and nourish in our yard on an installation bench created for the show.
Public Time Private Time was part of a city-wide initiative EXIT STRATEGIES by the Rabinovich Foundation and the Municipality of Tel Aviv Yaffo, to return art to the streets.

Landscape by MORIA SEKELY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE LTD

The Restraint and Management Program for the Ayalon River Runoff is a large-scale project to construct a fourth railroad track along Highway 20 from Tel Aviv University Station to the eastern part of the city, and third and fourth railroad tracks along Highway 1 from the Kibbutz Galuyot interchange to the city of Lod. The plans for the fourth railroad track along Highway 20 can be implemented only if the existing Ayalon River Channel (“the Channel”), which currently conveys the river water to the sea, is narrowed to make room for the railroad tracks. Narrowing of the Channel from 20 m to 10 m wide is expected to decrease its conveyance capacity from 400 cubic meters per second (m³/s) to 200 m³/s.

Source: Gutman Assif Architects