Israelis win Barcelona landscape architecture prize

The renovation of the Tel Aviv Port has earned the two architects who designed the public spaces there the award for outstanding landscape architecture in Europe at the Euorpean Biennial for Landscape Architecture, in Barcelona.

	The wooden boardwalk at Tel Aviv's rejuvenated port. Pedestrians and bikers share space.
	Photo by: David Bachar

The recognition, given in spite of the fact that Israel is not technically part of the continent, was conferred on Friday in the Spanish city to Tel Aviv architects Udi Kassif and Ganit Maislits Kassif. The Rosa Barba Prize, as it is known, is considered one of the most prestigious in the field. The Tel Aviv Port also received recognition as the audience favorite.

The Israeli architect couple said they had not thought they stood a chance of winning because they are not European.

They reached the finals along with eight European architecture firms among more than 400 that entered the competition. The finalists were required to present their detailed plans to the jury of judges and the audience.

Israeli project bests eight'real European' entries

The Israelis said that in their presentation to the jury they described the history of Tel Aviv and the city's relationship with its seafront. They said they also showed how the realization of the plan preserved the port area as a public space. The jury included such prominent landscape architects as Franco Zagari of Italy and Nigel Thorne of Britain. Thorne is president of the European Foundation of Landscape Architecture.

The renovation of the Tel Aviv Port was undertaken in 2001 with funding from the Tel Aviv Municipality and the Marine Trust.

The project included the renovation of buildings at the port and its conversion into a center for retail activity and for cultural and entertainment purposes. The work included installation of a 20,000-square meter wooden boardwalk, as well as seating areas, sun shades and parking. The site includes both shopping venues and cafes.