Tamar Ofer, a graduate of the School of Architecture, is the winner of the 2023 Archiprix International 2023 Award

Tamar Ofer, a graduate of the School of Architecture, is the winner of the prestigious 2023 Archiprix International award. Ofer was selected with her final project: “Towards a New Architect”, out of hundreds of projects submitted to the competition.

The “Towards a New Architect” project is an experiment in planning and implementing alternative action models for the architect in the local arena. The first phase of the project produced a critical mapping of the profession in particular, and of the planning discourse in general. Examining all the mechanisms that make up the spatial reality in the local arena led to a twin study of two neighborhoods as a case-study for the architect's potential influence. Ramat Aviv in the north of Tel Aviv and Ramat Yosef in the north of Bat Yam were both designed under almost identical conditions by the same architect. Later, Ramat Yosef was condemned for evacuation and construction, while Ramat Aviv was defined as a texture for preservation. From the comparison of the discourse and the planning policy between the neighborhoods, a series of differences was identified that distinguishes between the two planning systems. The gaps identified in the research phase were implemented into a professional action model in the Ramat Yosef neighborhood, which was made possible by the initiation and implementation of an architectural 'residency' hosted by the 'Urban Studio' in Ramat Yosef - the headquarters of the Education and Community Department under Bat Yam Museums

From the reasoning of the judging committee: “Many young architects reflect on the role of the architect and explore new ways of practicing architecture. For them, architecture is more than construction. “Towards a New Architect” is a method of the architecture profession that pays attention to all stakeholders. This is a thoughtful and mature project that guides architecture today.”

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