The Future Generation: Boomers with Plenty of Free Time, Still Figuring Out Smartphones and Urban Development
A Story Unfolding Across Timelines.
Recap from previous episodes:
In this series of episodes, I’m sharing my dialogues with my father and inviting you to join our conversation. The series begins with a brief overview of what happened in the pre-state period until we reach the early days of Israel and the construction solutions adopted to house almost a million immigrants who arrived in Israel with nothing but the clothes they wore.
Current Time.
Nissim: Are you ready to get started?
Liat: Ready? I was born ready... but then I hit snooze.Â
Nissim: You hit snooze too often.
Liat: Let’s do this!
Nissim: Did you invite your friends like we talked about? Or are they still hitting snooze, too?
Liat: Oh, they’re all pros at snoozing. But don’t worry, it’s just me. If anyone else came, trust me, you’d see them, hear them, and the algorithms would crash.
Nissim: Alright, let’s hit the road!Â
Let’s focus on this session on urban development and architectural characteristics during the British mandate. Urban planning is influenced by economic, social, and political conditions and by changing "trends."
Documented urban and building planning in Israel began during the British Mandate in the early 1920s. At that time, planning was subject to British planning and construction law, which was the same law in place in Britain at the time.
The Flourishing of International Style Architecture During the British Mandate in Israel
During the British Mandate, the International Style of architecture and design that was developed in Europe thrived in the Land of Israel, also known as Palestine-Eretz Israel. This leading architectural style, rooted in the modernist trends of early 20th-century architecture, was greatly influenced by the Bauhaus school in Germany.Â
A key principle of this style was its universality. It aimed for functional, affordable, and aesthetic solutions to address social challenges after the First World War. Remember that there were many social problems then, and everyone looked for cheaper and simpler solutions.Â
Characteristics of the International Style in Israel
Since the International Style emphasized simplicity and cost-effective construction, its key architectural attributes included functionalism and rejecting unnecessary decoration. Unlike traditional architectural styles that emphasized decorative facades, the International Style focused on the building's purpose and prioritized the utility structure over design.
The social concepts of this style, along with its economic efficiency, aligned well with the needs of the Jewish community in the Land of Israel, Palestine-Eretz Israel, during that time. The style underwent slight modifications to adapt to the local climate, such as minimizing south-facing windows, avoiding glass walls, and incorporating more balconies.Â
Externally, asymmetry became a defining feature, contrasting with the symmetry common in traditional designs. Bauhaus architects believed that symmetry served the architect, not the residents. Functionality remained key, with flat roofs replacing sloped or arched ones, and windows were either straight or round, resembling ship windows.
In contrast to European examples, the International Style in Israel was marked by minimalist balconies, especially on street corners. These rounded corner balconies are abundant in Tel Aviv, giving the city's streets a theatrical quality, like balconies overlooking a stage. Shading elements, such as eaves and ventilation systems, were crucial for blocking the harsh sun and encouraging airflow. White plastered walls were common, except in Jerusalem, where buildings were clad in local Jerusalem stone in accordance with regulations set during the British Mandate that are still in effect today; can you believe it?
The International Style's universality sought to create an architectural approach suitable for any city worldwide. Iconic features, such as the ship-like design, were easily recognizable, transcending location and culture. The principles of functionalism and minimalism continue to influence modern architecture and demonstrate the lasting value of practical, people-focused design.
Liat: Wait, so before this, was design more about impressing people with fancy details than actually making buildings that worked for those living in them?
Nissim: Architectural design certainly considered people's needs before that, but in ways that prioritized aesthetic, symbolic, or monumental purposes over functionality. In many historical architectural styles, buildings were designed to reflect power, wealth, or religious significance, with less focus on the daily practical needs of the tenants.Â
Liat: Mom would not live in a dysfunctional house. She still gets upset when she sees you designing impressive buildings, but cleaning and maintaining them is difficult.
Nissim: Indeed, your mother has been wise about these aspects since the concept phase. However, most people don’t and, therefore, sometimes ask for architectural designs that would be challenging to maintain, but they are the clients.Â
The International Style led to a shift to prioritize function, efficiency, and simplicity, reflecting society's changing needs, especially as urbanization and industrialization accelerated in the 20th century.Â
Well, we covered an important topic today, so let’s pause here.
Liat: Alright. That’s it for today.
Nissim: My friends at the coffee shop said you have to post it on Facebook. They said only Facebook works.
Liat: Facebook? Dad, I barely use Facebook anymore. My Instagram stories are linked to Facebook automatically, but honestly, I don’t think people on Facebook have the patience to read anything longer than two sentences.
Nissim: That’s what you think.
Liat: I have a better chance of people reading my stories on Substack, Medium, or LinkedIn. Those platforms attract readers who value learning and make reading part of their daily routine. Last week, I shared my article "Living with Trust Issues: The Human Side of Zero Trust Architecture" on Facebook—not a single like. I’m pretty sure most of my friends there don’t even know what Zero Trust Architecture is. I bet they don’t even know how to find my stories on Substack or Medium.
Nissim: I'll tell my friends about it next time we meet for coffee. They always have good advice.
Liat: But Dad, most of them are retired and barely get along with their smartphones. They don’t even know how to turn off autocorrect. How are they supposed to help?
Nissim: Don’t underestimate us. We’re the future generation.
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Liat
In this journey, I weave together episodes from my life with the rich tapestry of Israeli culture through music, food, arts, entrepreneurship, and more. I write over the weekends and evenings and publish these episodes as they unfold, almost like a live performance.
Each episode is part of a set focused on a specific topic, though sometimes I release standalone episodes. A set is released over several days to make it easier for you to read during your busy workday. If one episode catches your attention, make sure to read the entire set to get the whole picture. Although these episodes are released in sets, you can read the entire newsletter from the beginning, as it flows smoothly, like music to your ears — or, in this case, your eyes.
I'm a boomer with an active IG account, a YouTube channel and Spotify presence. I've been off FB for 5 years and first used the Internet in 1995. All of that is thanks to being a professional musician. My boomer friends are aware of all the above but take no interest. Some even read actual books - the horror!! My whole house is lined with books and that is fabulous, it truly is, I would have it no other way. But I only read books on my Kindle or on my phone. Oy vey
Your dad sounds like a mensch!!