January 29, 2015

arhitecti

Much has been written about Israeli design and architecture, but it is rare for a top international magazine to dedicate a whole supplement to blue-and-white creativity. Yet, Wallpaper* magazine recently produced “Israel Revealed”  — a special supplement on Israeli design, architecture and style.

The January 2015 supplement featured 41 “gifted architects and interior designers that are shaping the state of Israel’s new skyline with a brave, bold vision while continuing to explore the situated modernist style and adapting modern trends to the country’s cultural, climatic and local traditions.”

At a glitzy launch party in Tel Aviv, Wallpaper* editor-in-chief Tony Chambers said: “We have always perceived Israel as a small country with great talent. The Israeli design scene has certainly matured and we hope we have been instrumental in exposing some of the best talents Israel can offer today.”

“Israel has been on Wallpaper*’s radar since the very beginning of the magazine, some 17,18 years ago,” Chambers says on a video clip showing a behind-the-scenes photo shoot of the special supplement.

Irit Axelrod, who designed the C House in Tel Aviv and the Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute building, is among those profiled.

“My primary influence has come from the plethora of Bauhaus and International Style buildings which make up the White City architecture in Tel Aviv,” she told the magazine, after being asked how the architecture of Israel influences her work.

Asked about the advantages of working as an architect in Israel, Yaron Tal told the magazine: “We have a special culture and many influences from all over the world. We are very dynamic and have some of the most creative minds, especially in the younger generation. Our challenges make us push ourselves harder and no goal is impossible.”

The Wallpaper* supplement also features some of the country’s most architecturally beautiful buildings, including the Design Museum in Holon and the Tel Aviv Art Museum.

“We are in a small and developing country; there is no well-defined historic, cultural language. This allows for greater flexibility in design and inspires freshness and innovation. Israel is a country where flexible thinking is the rule rather than the exception,” Pitsou Kedem tells Wallpaper*.

The 16-page supplement covers trends in Israeli architecture as well as sustainable building and the need for adapting to the environment.

“I like to use recycled and old materials in combination with contemporary and modern materials. The use of these materials and details is part of the story of the country, the place, the climate, the client and the craftsmen involved,” Yonatan Monjack, whose architectural firm specializes mainly in private houses, luxury apartments and boutique hotels, tells the magazine.

“The Mediterranean hot weather calls for a lot of thought and consideration. I usually integrate lots of doorways to enable natural circulation of air, as well as conservation of warm air for the colder nights. The directions and angles of the house are also something I always consider when planning the design — the direction of the sun helps to deliver more light and warmth,” says Sharon Ecker of Ecker Michael Architects.

The Israel Revealed project was produced in association with cutting-edge Israeli quartz surface manufacturer Caesarstone.

More on Life