project by Aaron Cohen, Leda Lycouriotis, Thanos Pagonis

shades and lighting

Six years after Yitzhak Rabbin's political assassination his vision for the 'road to peace' seems to have still a lot of obstacles to overcome, as indicated by the state of world politics today.

Rather than bypassing reality, the starting point of this proposal has been exactly the opposite: The acknowledgement of present fluidity and of the fact that the idea of an international peace forum can simply not be represented in a permanent structure, if it is to make any sense at all. Something has been shattered in the world today and it has to be rebuilt from scratch. In this light it is proposed that the square becomes a construction site for world peace. This is done by removing the existing lay out and replacing it with a temporary structure to remain there for an indefinite amount of time, until there is 'ground' to consider a solid and permanent architectural design .

By emphasizing on the process, rather than the final picture, the idea of the construction site is appropriate in the context of a forum. The latter is understood as a field where the sense of 'becoming' is more vital than the sense of 'being' in a dynamic process, where there is still no straight access and no homogenous field of consensus. If translated in the context of architectural development the above concept reverses the dialectics of urban change; what is normally treated, as an insignificant transitory stage, the construction phase, turns central, while the final outcome is absent.

Further it is to be understood as an act of participation and involvement calling for the physical engagement rather than the distant contemplation of the viewer/user of the square. Minimal comfort is provided and circulation has been deliberately manipulated to make one realize that the consequences of what is happening far out there in the world cannot be kept out of one's daily routine anymore.

Finally it acts also as a tribute to Rabbin's memory; the ground upon which he gave his last speech has been 'shattered'. It is preferable to acknowledge it rather than masking it behind an actof 'symbolic design'. In an era where Architecture becomes a target, the utmost architectural act is to produce its own absence, so as to 'send out a clear message' for world peace.

The paved surface is removed in a central zone leaving collateral stripes of pavement on the sides. The uncovered soil is flattened beneath street level with the exception of selected islands to the reserved as 'stand by' elements for future developement.

The level of prdestrian circulation is constructed by wood and iron material of standardised dimensions and profiles put toghether on site.

Provided by a wooden-iron scaffolding ramp structure, conceived as a continuation of the pathway pattern on the upper level. A balcony overlooks the perspective view of Ben Gurlon Blvd. The scaffold can be used to support an event.

The sculpture is, it is covered up to be protected by a semi-transparent veil, attached on a wooden scaffold.

The "Under Construction" project by Aaron Cohen, Leda Lycouriotis and Thanos Pagonis has been proposed to the International Ideas Competition announced by the Israeli Institute of Architects and Town Planners and the competition committee that represents the Rabin International Peace Forum The Competition concerns the actual construction and execution of the Rabin Sq. in Tel Aviv that normally must begin at the end of 2002.

top