Architecture and Utopia: The Israeli Experiment

by Chyutin,Michael

• ISBN13: 9780754648314
• ISBN10: 0754648311
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-04-28
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

A fascinating account of a return to the land, a return to normalcy, prompted by unconventional thinking to which the world is not accustomed. This wonderful volume, Architecture and Utopia, describes a phenomenon that - despite its minuscule dimensions within the new Israeli entity - became the torch lighting the way for all of Israeli society. Professor Arch. David M. Cassuto, Dean of the Department of Architecture in Ariel University, Israel"This is the first comprehensive academic book on the architectural planning of utopian rural settlements in Israel during the last century. The authors, well-known architects, brilliantly analyze the layouts of the settlements in relation to the different prevalent social ideologies and the impact of changes on their development in time. Most interesting are the observations made in the broader context of the history of utopian and ideal settlements design and modern city planning."Professor Adam A. Mazor, Israel Institute of Technology, IsraelPlacing the kibbutz within the wider context of utopian social ideals and how they have historically been physically and architecturally constructed, this book discusses the form of the 'ideal settlement' as an integral part and means for realizing a utopian doctrine. It shows how a utopian settlement organization behaves over time and the directions of expected future development.There are more than 450 Moshavim settlements and about 270 kibbutzim in Israel. While there is a range of communal and cooperative kibbutz movements, all with slight ideological differences, they are all collective rural communities, based on an ideal to create a social utopian settlement.Placing the kibbutz within the wider context of utopian social ideals and how they have historically been physically and architecturally constructed, this book discusses the form of the 'ideal settlement' as an integral part and means for realizing a utopian doctrine. It presents an analysis of physical planning in the kibbutz through the past eight decades and how changes in ideology are reflected in changes in layout and aesthetics. In doing so, this book shows how a utopian settlement organization behaves over time, from their first appearance in 1920 on, to an examination of the current spatial layouts and the directions of their expected future development.Contents: Social Utopia and the ideal settlement; Utopian settlements in Israel; The kibbutz - a communal society; The cooperative settlement - a family commune; The workers settlement - a family cooperative; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.About the Author: Michael and Bracha Chyutin are leading Israeli architects, whose firm has won many competitions and awards for public buildings designs. Michael Chyutin has been the editor of the Israeli Architectural Association Journal and also published several books and articles on modern and ancient architecture and on Biblical studies.

Table of Contents

Social Utopia and the ideal settlement

Utopian settlements in Israel

The kibbutz: a communal society

The cooperative settlement: (moshav shitufi): a commune of families

The workers' settlement (moshav ovdim): a cooperative of families

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.