The “Shalom Hartman” Institute, Jerusalem

In 1988 I was invited by the Jewish Agency to participate in another competition for the design of Hartman Institute Campus in Jerusalem. This institute is dedicated to the study of Judaism in an open , progressive way. Some of the best scholars from Israel and from the Diaspora meet here to share their learning. The Institute also opens its gates to wise scholars  from the Christian and the Islam world. Secular Jews, both educators and students come here to study the Bible and our tradition. Ecumenical inter faith meetings are facilitated by the Institute.

I won the competition. At the end of 1993 the building of the campus started, the first stage was completed in 1996 and the second stage a couple of month ago. The Hartman Institute contains two research buildings, a central study building (Bet Midrash) and a high school. I applied in my design everything I learned through the years about building in Jerusalem. The elements of what I defined as Israeli/Jewish space are to be found here.

This project is a conclusion of my architectural work up to now in Jerusalem and I want to share with you some of it here :

-         The nostalgia for the lost Garden of Eden, the Ideal Space where both Affective and Effective spaces coincide.

-         The unobstructed walks and views on the Horizontal Axis .

-         The Vertical Axis is emphasized by those private pieces of sky which characterize every inner court of the buildings and in between the different buildings of the campus.

-         Fresh water and shade, basic elements of the Oasis, facilitate the visitor walk through the campus.

-         The contrast and dialogue between transparency and stone, secure shelter plus the option kept open of the depart. Dialogue between open and close, between, outside and inside.

Send mail to webmaster with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2000 Lou Gelehrter architects
Last modified: ספטמבר 19, 2000