Press Release :

The Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design is conducting an international architecture competition for the design of its new campus in the center of Jerusalem, and invited architects from around the world to participate.

Daniel Mintz of MM+L together with, Rosenfeld Arens Architects, and were invited, along with four other notable architectural studios, including Foreign Office Architects and Marazzi to the second phase of a design competition for the new campus of Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in the Russian Compound Jerusalem, replacing the previous campus on Mount Scoupus.

David Carry of tSUBO was contracted to assist with the competition entry, provide information architecture, branding, graphic design, multi-media and strategic consultancy.

Design Concept Summary:

“The development of a memorable urban space invites the citizens of Jerusalem to a place of cultural events. The proposal binds the relationship between the multiple human dimensions of the city and calls for a shared urban experience.

The design will generate urban intensity emphasizing the origins of the universal memory of Jerusalem and introduces the presence of the evolving Israeli society, represented by the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, through a continuous cultural event.

The architectural complex is governed by four qualities:

1. TRANSPARENCY – The conceptual and physical exactitude enables the proportioned urban space and its geometry to become transparent, thus accentuating human events.
2. TRANSLUCENCY – The crystalline structure permeated by the ambiance of the temporal changes, challenges gravitational presence, thus establishing the experience of lightness.
3. FLEXIBILITY – The frame format and the stereotomic approach offers possibilities for change within the program of the complex, without compromising the overall conception.
4. RESONANCE – The inner space refracts and reflects itself, the urban scape, the sky, and the students, all becoming a kaleidoscopic collage.These qualities transform the external physical reality into a total abstraction enabling each individual to rediscover a sense of being.”

by Daniel Mintz, Architect

Architects:
Daniel Mintz (MM+L) + Rosenfeld Arens Architects : daniel.mintz@artecoop.net

Communication Media:
David Carry (tSUBO) : david.carry@artecoop.net

Client Name:
Bezalel International Architecture Competition
Design Year:
2007
Function:
Academy . Cultural Engineering
Project Status:
Completed
Country:
Israel

In a call to the challenging competition held by Arup and WaterAid to improve the access to safe water for billion people we suggested the integration of existing ideas and technologies through sustainable guiding principles.

The WatAir design will simply produce water from the air. WatAir should bring Change and Hope with its simple and efficient approach! We looked at the spider web and the water on leafs for inspiration. Our water web is a social design inspired by nature through its symbiotic relationship both with nature and rural dwellings and can be easily deployed within the eccentric environments as well as deployment on rooftops in dense cities. Minimal footprint of the device on the ground together with vertical and diagonal design will increase collecting area via gravitation and will save space on the ground for other activities such as: Shading for outdoors activities, playground for children etc. The shading canopy will prevent vaporization while protecting from rain and heat the people beneath. Parachuting capabilities to remote and isolated communities increase transportation efficiency and gives greater freedom, saves time and improves productivity.

The compact lightweight packing can be installed easily via its flexibility in the spatial arrangement through different layouts and even folding option during day time. Optional PV elastic panels can produce clean & free energy along side the dew and rain collection in order to supply all the energy needed for the other basic necessities.

In order to increase public’s awareness to the problem and to the possible solutions we used simplicity as our design process. Our design should be with in reach for all people around the world. Our architectural background helped us to see beyond the technological solution and to give more functions and deeper meanings to it all.

The WatAir has humanitarian aspects, education potential and sheltering capabilities. In order to make safe water an accessible reality worldwide we had to take into consideration minimal cost for the manufacturing of the product, easy and quick deployment in remote places, practical solution that will also work as environmental regenerator and as educational icon.

By printing logos and advertisements on the canvas sheets it will be easy to convince potential sponsors to pay for the manufacturing and the shipment cost of the products. Local art and literature will make it a culture event. The design has minimal special demands. It is low tec and low cost and in fact can be even produced with local means.

Designer Name:
Joseph Cory + Eyal Malka . Geotectura

Link:
www.geotectura.com

Awards:
1st prize in the Drawing Water Challenge Competition