Wilshire Boulevard Temple, famous for its ornate 1929 synagogue, is trying to create another Los Angeles landmark, negotiating with the Pritzker Prize-winning Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas to design a building next door for special events. It would be open for use by the public as well as by congregants.
“Architecture is a form of prayer,” said Rabbi Steven Z. Leder of the Reform congregation, which is in Koreatown.
— nytimes.com
7 Comments
Cool, but atypical for a Jewish organization to hire a goy.
^ Only because there aren't any Jewish architects.
Oy vey!
Why not Frank Owen Goldberg?
FYI Frank Gehry already designed an expansion for the other large Jewish Temple, The Hollywood Blvd Temple. Offices and school if I remember. Not so good.
The Wilshire Blvd Temple, which is the largest in Los Angeles just went through a beautiful restoration, added a parking structure and expanded the school.
As to no Jewish architects in Los Angeles, of course that is a joke. Ever heard of Neutra? It is not a coincidence that Los Angeles has a largest percentage of Jewish architects than any other American city. The connection with Hollywood film and entertainment industries helped.
And Koolhaus's son is a filmaker in Los Angeles.
Brenda Levin, a Temple congregant and Jewish architect whose firm specializes in restorations and renovations, well known not only for her painstaking work on Wilshire Boulevard Temple, but also the lovingly restored downtown Bradbury Building, nearby Wiltern Theater, The Griffith Observatory and Dodger Stadium.
Her company performed an outstanding restoration inside and out of Wilshire Boulevard Temple. Built in 1929 it stands as the best example of only a few Byzantine style Jewish synagogues in America. In contrast Koolhaas's style, known for sleek modern lines and shiny surfaces, contradicts with the existing national registered historic building.
It's hard to imagine a good integration of classic style with ultra modern shine. Perhaps the comparison might be to contrast the Hollywood glamour of Marlene Dietrich with that of the eclectic style of Helena Bonham Carter. Both talented beautiful women, but each with a unique public style. Could they perform together without adjusting the look of one or the other?
Kolhaas's other major work in Los Angeles can be found on Rodeo Drive inside the Prada store. It's a stark ultra modern space with not a speck of history. But they focus on an ever changing fashion industry, not 5000 years of religious narrative.
All of the superb work that Brenda Levin and Associates performed will be overshadowed by this new conference center contrasting not only with history but the Jewish nature of this unique campus. One has to wonder weather Ms Levin was part of the jury team that choose a yet to be released proposal.
I, too, wonder weather . . . I wonder weather sleek and shiny....I wonder weather byzantine and eclectic.... i wonder ultra speck ... i wonder 5000 years of fashion ..... i wonder jewish nature ...but mostly i wonder Gothic:
Peter Eisenman took me by my coat like this, in a very aggressive way, and said, “Do you know why you’re here, Koolhaas?”
And I said, “No.”
“You are here to represent the Gothic element.”
goddamn savages.
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