New Holocaust History Museum - Jerusalem

3794 Views 9 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Azazel, Mar 26, 2005

TeLaVivi

Discussion Starter · Mar 21, 2005

Designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, the new Holocaust History Museum is a prism-like triangular structure that penetrates the mountain from one side to the other, with both ends dramatically cantilevering into the open air. The triangular form of the structure was chosen to support the pressure of the earth above the prism while bringing in daylight from above through a 200 meter-long glass skylight. The skylight allows gleams of daylight to contrast with darker areas required for multimedia presentations. Within the galleries, light enters through localized skylights varying from diffused to clear glass, depending on the requirements of each exhibit.

The entire structure of the museum—floors, wall, interior and exterior—are reinforced concrete. Throughout the prism, the triangular cross-section varies, becoming narrower at the center. The warped surface formed by this variation, amplified by a gently sloping floor, creates a changing sequence of spaces and gives the illusion of descending deep into the mountain. As the route nears its northern exit, the floor begins to ascend and the triangle opens up again, with the exit bursting forth from the mountain’s slope to a dramatic view of modern-day Jerusalem.

To read more about the architecture, click here

More than 30 world leaders attend inaguration of new Holocaust History Museum - full article
Holocaust Museum's 'journey to light' - full article

Photo Credit: Pool Photo/Goran Tomasevic Via AP

Photo presentation on WashigtonPost.com

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Saudi Dunes

· #2 · Mar 22, 2005

That looks really nice. The architecture is stunning. Although its a grim reminder of a horrible past, I think its stands as a gleaming monument that attests to how far you guys have come, despite being the under-dog and the scapegoat for soo long.

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Marshal

· #3 · Mar 22, 2005

Isn't there already a museum in Israel regarding that?

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Olive touch

· #4 · Mar 22, 2005

TeLaVivi thanks for the post. It is sad though specially the children.

Please TeLaVivi if you have more photos post them.

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Sarajka

· #5 · Mar 22, 2005

It's hard to comment on the architecture of such an important building...

Truthfully, I don't like it. It's not a very attractive building.

I hope they redesign it eventually.

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bluejon

· #6 · Mar 22, 2005

While I agree that the building isn't ostentacious, I dont think its should be. It should be a grim looking building because the visitors should be reminded of how horrible the Holocaust was. I personally think it's a great design and looks very nice within the mountain.

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TeLaVivi

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 22, 2005

Marshal said:
Isn't there already a museum in Israel regarding that?

The old museum at Yad Vashem - the name for the entire memorial complex - was built in the 1950's and by the late 1990s was very old fashioned.

bluejon said:
While I agree that the building isn't ostentacious, I dont think its should be. It should be a grim looking building because the visitors should be reminded of how horrible the Holocaust was. I personally think it's a great design and looks very nice within the mountain.

True, that's exactly the point .

From the BBC : "Only the very top of the building is exposed; a prism of glass and grey concrete that slices into the top of the Mount of Remembrance.

The galleries themselves are sunk deep into the earth of the mountain.

Grey concrete may not be much of a novelty in the rest of the world. But it is near-revolutionary in Jerusalem.

All buildings here (in Jerusalem) have to be clad in light yellow stone. The Holocaust Museum received a special dispensation to leave its concrete bare."

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Sarajka

· #8 · Mar 22, 2005

Oh wow, that does make a difference, TelAviv.

I know here they were a few mass graves (from the 1992-1995 war) where the purposly ensure no grass grows on top and it stays a brown, churned patch of earth.

The grey concrete makes sense now, that is a fitting idea.

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