Instant Modernism

The A.M. Qattan Foundation (AMQF) invites Palestinian architects, artists and academics worldwide to submit applications to be considered for a research-based architectural installation planned for 2022–23 titled Instant Modernism: On the Architectural Fabrication of Israel and prompted by he book The Object of Zionism: The Architecture of Israel by Zvi Efrat (Spector Books: 2018, Table of Contents).

To further investigate the topics and themes presented in the book, invited participants will produce discursive material that scrutinises the book’s epistemological trajectory on colonial architecture and modernism. The architectural installation will be an amalgamation of the 34 sections of the book, and an archival compilation created by the architects who will contribute additional texts and visual content corresponding with the book. The installation itself will take the shape of a communal space in which each architect joins in enriching the archive by participating in talks, lectures, performances, panel discussions, debates, and other events.

As described by the author, The Object of Zionism: The Architecture of Israel is a critical study of Zionist spatial planning and the architectural fabrication of the State of Israel from the early decades of the twentieth century to the 1960s and 1970s. It scrutinizes Israel as a singular modernist project—unprecedented in its relative scope and rates of growth, its political and ethical circumstances, and its hyper-production of spatial and structural experiments. This project entailed the molding of a new terrain, the construction of dozens of new towns and hundreds of new rural settlements, and the appropriation of post-war architectural trends, especially Brutalism and Structuralism, as signifiers of national vigour and cultural ingenuity. Contrary to common belief, the State of Israel was not born of emergency routine or speculative ventures, but rather with the objective of designing an instantaneous model state.

We are calling on architects, artists and academics to review the Table of Content of the book provided in the link below and to submit an proposals that targets one of the 34 titled sections. We are looking for individuals or collectives who will further the discussion of these themes through their proposals of new conceptual directions and multidisciplinary methodologies, with the intention to compile the material into the architectural installation.

A committee comprised of members from AMQF and other prominent local figures in architecture will evaluate the applications and select a preliminary list. The nominated participants will pitch their work to the jury committee who will make the final selection. Successful applicants will be contracted by AMQF for the covering of their fees based on an adjusted and approved proposal. A series of one-on-one meetings with the curator will also occur, aimed at further developing the architects’ concepts and directions.

Applications should be submitted electronically no later than midnight March 10, 2022. The preliminary list will be announced no later than March 20, 2022. The pitching event will take place in March 2022 followed by the final selection process.

Eligibility
All Palestinian architects or architect collectives/collaboratives/labs, artists and academics residing in Mandatory Palestine, the Diaspora, and the Syrian Golan.

Timeline
Deadline for applications: March 10, 2022
Announcement of preliminary selected applicants: March 20
Pitching for the selection committee: March 30

Budget
See application form.

Important notes
Please ensure you have carefully read the guidelines before filling out the application form. All fields are required. Incomplete applications will not be evaluated. You will receive an automatic confirmation email when the application is received. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted further by the AMQF.