Among the general criteria listed for awarding the Israel Prize are “exceptional contribution to Israeli society and culture, Lifetime Achievement and Excellence”. A pity the Israel Prize for Architecture on more than one occasion has been awarded to architects who have designed buildings of dubious quality. Something big has gone wrong. Following are examples of the work of three prize-winning architects illustrating the problem. While they have at times designed successful projects over the course of long careers, many of their buildings had serious negative impacts, the list too long to cite here as space is limited. Dan Eytan who received the prize in 2019 designed the squat and brutal exposed concrete fifteen story Clal Center building in the heart pf Jerusalem’s center situated between Jaffa Road and Agrippas Street. A concrete jungle with a deserted interior shopping mall and a confusing circulation system. The Hyatt Hotel (today’s Dan Jerusalem) with over 500 rooms, one of the largest in the country, was designed by........

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