Academic symposium in remembrance of the architect and historian Myra Warhaftig
March 4th 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Myra Warhaftig (March 11, 1930 – March 4, 2008) the architect and historian of architecture. For this reason the ‘Association for Research on the Lives and Works of German-Speaking Jewish Architects’, founded by Myra Warhaftig, is planning an international academic symposium.
The symposium aims at giving an overview of the growing manifold research on the works and biographies of forgotten Jewish architects in Germany and other countries who were not allowed to continue their professions after 1933, who had to face persecution, emigration and even murder. Much of this research is based on the ground-breaking scientific work of Myra Warhaftig. Another focus of the symposium will be the architect Myra Warhaftig and her typological and architectural work on modern and emancipatory ground plans for apartments. The house Dessauer St. 38/40 in Berlin-Kreuzberg, which she designed, demonstrated this approach and was part of the International Building Exhibition in Berlin in 1987. Myra Warhaftig was an impressive personality with an outstanding biography, one which led her from Israel via France to Germany where she worked but also confronted much opposition. Thanks to her energy she was able to overcome many of these obstacles.
Date: May 17-18th. 2018.
Place: Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin)
Architekturgebäude
152, Strasse des 17. Juni, 10623 Berlin
Forum at Ground Floor
Organizer: Gesellschaft zur Erforschung des Lebens und Wirkens deutschsprachiger jüdischer Architekten (GJA)
In cooperation with Technical University of Berlin and Bauhaus University Weimar
Programme:
Thursday, May 17, 2018
17:00 Opening
Greetings: Dr. Günter Schlusche (GJA)
Prof. Dr. Jörg Gleiter (TU Berlin, Institute for Architecture)
Dipl. Ing. Christine Edmaier (President of the Chamber of Architects, Berlin)
Dipl. Ing. Orly Fatal-Warhaftig (Tel Aviv, Israel)
Personal Words and Pictures
Opening Lecture: Prof. Dr. Ines Weizman (Bauhaus University, Weimar)
Reconstructing the Unknown – Historiographers of modern architecture
Musical Enhancement: Tal Balshai / Morgentau Honigtee sings Tucholsky and his own songs
Presentation of the documentary „Myra Warhaftig: architect, historian and friend“ by Ingo Kratisch, Berlin
Reception
Friday, May 18, 2018
9:00
Welcome Dipl. Ing. Marie Josée Seipelt (GJA)
Section 1: The Architect Myra Warhaftig and Her House Dessauer Strasse 38/40 in Berlin-Kreuzberg
Moderator: Dr. Günter Schlusche (GJA)
9:30
Prof. Dr. Gerald Adler (Canterbury/London, University of Kent, School of Architecture)
A New Concept of the “Berlin Room”: The House of Myra Warhaftig at Dessauer Strasse
9:50
Dipl.-Ing. Silja Glomb (Architect, Stockholm)
The Fight of Myra Warhaftig for Women’s Equality in the Profession of Architects
Discussion
10:30
Panel: The International Building Exposition and Block 2 – Emancipatory Living in Public Housing
Dipl. Ing. Christine Jachmann (Architect, Construction Coordinator Block 2)
Dr. Günter Schlusche (Planning Coordinator of IBA Block 2)
Dr. Romuald Loegler (Architect Block 2, Publisher, Kraków)
Discussion
11:45
Coffee Break
12:00
Dipl. Kaufmann Christian Beck (CEO degewo Berlin, Client of Dessauer Strasse 38/40)
The House of Myra Warhaftig and Block 2 – The Meaning of Such Forms of Living for Contemporary Housing Politics
Final Discussion section 1
13:00
Lunch Break
Section 2: Forgotten Jewish Architects: The Research of Myra Warhaftig and Its Repercussions
Moderator: Dr. Ines Sonder (Moses Mendelssohn Zentrum, University of Potsdam)
14:00
Prof. Dr. Gabi Dolff-Bonekämper (TU Berlin, Department of Preservation of Historical Buildings)
The Value of Memorials – Works of Jewish Architects in Berlin
14:20
Prof. Dr. Martin Papenbrock (Institute of Technology Karlsruhe, Institute for the History of Art and Building)
Scientific Perspectives on the Work of Myra Warhaftig
14:40
Rabbi Prof. Dr. Andreas Nachama (Berlin)
Myra Warhaftig’s Search for Jewish Sacral Architecture
Discussion
15:15
PD Dr. Ulrich Knufinke, and Irina Troitskaya (Institute for the History of German Jews, Hamburg)
Jewish Paths into Architecture. A Project on the Lives and Careers of Jewish Architects in the 20th Century
15:40
Dr. Ines Sonder (Art Historian, Moses Mendelssohn Zentrum, University of Potsdam)
“They Laid the Foundation: Lives and Works of German-Speaking Jewish Architects in Palestine 1918-1948” – Myra Warhaftig’s Book and Its Perception
Discussion
16:15
Coffee Break
16:30
Dr. Sigal Davidi (Historian of Architecture, Tel Aviv/TU Berlin)
By Women for Women. Women Architects Design Training Kitchens in Pre-State Israel
16:50
Dr. Liora Bar’am Shahal (Historian of Architecture, Haifa)
The Pioneers” – Aspects of Modernism in the Plans for Kibbutzim by Richard Kauffmann and Arieh Sharon
17.20
Dr. Zvi Elhyani (Director, Israel Architecture Archive, Tel Aviv/Israel)
Exposed Roots: Myra Warhartigs groundbreaking role in the historiography of Israel
Final Discussion
End of Symposium: 17.45
Saturday, May 19, 2018
11:00
Sightseeing tour of Dessauer St. 38/40, the house designed by Myra Warhaftig
Meeting Point: Dessauer Str. 38/40 in Berlin-Kreuzberg
Optional:
Guided Walking Tours to buildings of forgotten Jewish architects in Berlin
Entrance free
No registration required
More information: www.juedische-architekten.de
We owe great thanks to the degewo AB Berlin and to Federmann Enterprises for their generous financial support and to our numerous supporters for their valuable contributions to the realization of the symposium.