1997 Interior Architecture
Berlin | Tel Aviv

Theoretical Framework

Ideas can be applied only after they are fully understood through analysis of their key components; translation is abstract, not literal. Similarly, a space cannot be replicated until it is broken down into its elements and understood in its context. Capturing the spirit is important, not physical re-creation. Although architecture is often imitated in order to recreate a space, factors such as culture and climate cannot be replicated, which limits success of the space. Architecture is not merely forms and spaces, but also the emotion associated with these forms and the way in which people use the spaces. It is this spirit of architecture, not just the end product, which we seek to understand.

The architectural elements of the city centers of Berlin and Tel Aviv reflect and form the political, economic, and social climate of each city, both currently and historically. It is this reflection and formation that identifies the similarities and differences of their cultures. These elements must be understood in their context to evoke the spirit of each center.

City Centers

The city center has long been regarded as an essential part of public life in a city. It is not always the physical center of the city, but is created by the concentration of economic affairs and is usually found in close proximity to civic and artistic endeavors. Interior spaces ritualize daily life for families and individuals by organizing spaces containing activities such as eating, working, and playing. A city center serves the same function on a public scale. It becomes the living room of the city containing elements of furniture, finishes, lighting, and artwork, which affect the design initiatives of circulation, scale, and views to the exterior. Encouraging interaction between all people of the city, regardless of variations in their economic and social status, the center provides the framework for the development of a rich culture. In turn, the architecture that forms the city center develops as a symbol of that culture. A city center, then, both reflects and forms the society.