Herzog & de Meuron to Build Israel National Library

2014-11-10T13:23:00-05:00

The National Library is pleased to share the concept designed by the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron for the new home of the Library in Jerusalem. As set out in the brief for the new building, the design, which will evolve during subsequent design stages, communicates the ‘values of openness and accessibility to the general public of all classes, nationalities and denominations’.

The 34,000 square meter building will house climate-controlled archives as well as digital facilities and both indoor and outdoor venues for cultural programming. In a statement, Herzog & de Meuron claim, “Our project reflects the open and transparent ambitions of the National Library of Israel. The strong, sculptural form of the stone, related to the specific topography and context of the site, is elevated off the ground, and situated above vitrine like elements. The stone contains a large open space for the library’s visitors and users to interact while the vitrines expose the collection, reading room and public functions to the street and adjacent surroundings.”

The firm won the project over other well-known practices such as that of Renzo Piano, Frank Gehry and Israeli architects Ammar Curiel, Kimmel Eshkolot and Kolker Kolker Epstein. Originally, the Israeli architect Rafi Segal was set to design the building until becoming embroiled in a copyright dispute.

"The new building is ...

Herzog & de Meuron selected to design the National Library of Israel

2013-04-29T16:44:00-04:00

After extensive discussions, the panel decided to recommend the Swiss office of Herzog & de Meuron to be the architects for the National Library of Israel. The panel, which was already aware of the many significant works of these Pritzker prize laureates, was extraordinarily impressed by the commitment shown by Jacques Herzog & Pierre de Meuron, as well as by the strengths and promise of their architectural approach...

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Herzog & de Meuron to Build Israel National Library

Herzog & de Meuron selected to design the National Library of Israel