Restoring the status of the architectural profession

A cluster of major problems have led to the loss of the status of the profession of architecture in Israel. As if “geographers” and architectural technicians taking over positions previously held by architects weren’t enough, most recently lawyers were employed by our “decision makers” to investigate six residential tower plans for the Jerusalem District Committee. Architecture is a profession requiring five years of study. Imagine the opposite – architects appearing in court in place of advocates.
Mayors, ignorant in matters of design, see little difference between real-estate and architecture. Moshe Lion, an accountant, is systematically destroying the character of the historic city of Jerusalem. Well-paid senior planning bureaucrats have decided that light-rail lines plus thirty story towers, entirely lacking a comprehensive, three dimensional long-term approach, can be called “planning policy”. Never in the history of Jerusalem – “David’s City”, have we sunk so low. Our politicians spurt out numbers, the only thing they seem to understand, without the slightest idea of the serious social implications of their decisions.

Our Haredi Minister of Housing who serves mainly his own tribe, is also the head of the Israel Lands Administration which for years has operated as if it were a private corporation.

Global architectural firms from North America, Europe and even Asia have made huge inroads here. Pei Cobb Freed – New York, is presently involved in eight Israeli projects, taking on local architects to deal only with our formidable planning and building bureaucracy.

With the exception of “Haaretz”, works of architecture are rarely mentioned in the media, branded building projects often published without naming their designers, the level of their design generally rock-bottom.

Barring significant changes to our planning and building law, setting out new guidelines for towers over twenty stories, their design, aesthetics and density along with compulsory requirements to investigate alternatives and public consultation, there’s little hope for positive change.

While all of us can agree on the need for increased economic urban density to serve our expanding population, the thousands of free-standing residential towers that have already and will be built are inappropriate to the Israeli way of life, proper family life within them impossible, their maintenance costs exorbitant. Local and national government policy is all wrong. The market and the State cannot provide morals.

Were the architectural and urban design professions status to be restored and design alternatives seriously investigated by top professionals, we would surely find far better ways to serve Israeli society.

Gerard Heumann – Architect and Urban Designer, Jerusalem