Shirly Kujawski Kenett

I was born and raised in Israel. As a daughter to a steel importer and a musician, I was inspired by both fields. From an early stage in m y life I knew that I wanted to do something that will combine both art and engineering. During my army service I bought a text book about Frank lloyd Wright and I remember reading it and thinking to myself that this is my dream...I want to be an architect!

 

After finishing my army service, I started my bachelor's degree in Architecture and town planning at the Technion in Haifa. These were the most amazing and toughest five years of my life. I was fascinated by the opportunity that was given to me to just think and to constantly mentally challenge myself. My final project dealt with hospitals and how they can be situated in the heart of cities. Seven years after graduating and practicing architecture in several firms I had the chance to touch this field of healthcare in more practical point of view. This was when I designed the interior of Samson new building at Herzog Hospital.

 

When I start thinking on a project, I'll first go to the site to feel the atmosphere: the colors, the sounds, the smells, etc. Then I'll analyze the given program to see if I can challenge it and start to draw the initial scheme, which for me is the core of the whole design. Whether its a private house, a hospital, or a logistic warehouse there will be people inside it that will use it. Thus, my biggest concern is to give them a place. 

 

Architecture for me is more then a profession, it's a passion! In the past ten years I practiced architecture in a variety of firms in Israel and worked on a vast range of projects and building types, such as: private houses, high rise residential buildings, reuse of buildings and new public spaces, logistics and healthcare facilities.  I try to take part in at least two architectural competitions a year, which keeps me fresh and creative. I believe that it is better to keep asking questions than thinking that I know everything.