Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Bauhaus in Jerusalem

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I realized that, living near Jerusalem, I naturally tend to post old stuff on the blog.
I like old stuff.
But maybe you would like to see some of our more modern buildings?

OK. So the blue sign on this one in Rechavia neighborhood says

"Bonem House -- Beit Bonem.
Designed by architect-engineer-artist Leopold Krakauer.
The house was built in 1935-36 for use of the Bonem family.
The building is considered an important example of modern Israeli architecture.
Preservation work was carried out in 2007 by Bank Leumi."
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I think it serves now as a branch of the bank.
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The wave of immigration from Germany in the 1930s brought many architects to Israel who had been influenced by the works of Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, and the Bauhaus.
Here they had to take into consideration Jerusalem's climate, steep topography, and the prevailing construction in stone.
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Artlog lists 25 Jerusalem houses and apartment buildings built in the International style.
If you like Bauhaus, you can click through the pictures of them.
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14 comments:

  1. Very interesting.

    The horrid acoustics of LeCorbusier's chapel at Ronchamps are an example of why an atheist/marxist never should have been allowed to design a church. In LeCorbusier's plan for the "urban renewal" of Paris - which was very nearly executed - he called for NĂ´tre Dame to be demolished.

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  2. I never realized Jerusalem had Bauhaus buildings too. To me they're completely identified with Tel Aviv, which has the world's largest collection of Bauhaus architecture.

    -----------------------------------
    My photography is available for purchase - visit Around the Island Photography and bring home something beautiful today!

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  3. Like Robin;I thought all the Bauhaus-buildings in Israel were in Tel Aviv. Nice house!

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  4. I often give lectures on the transfer of Bauhaus taste from Germany after 1933, and of course Tel Aviv is one of the most important recipient cities. I think I know every surviving Bauhaus building in Tel Aviv :)

    But Jerusalem? I must read Artlog's 25 Bauhaus sites very carefully. Many many thanks!

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  5. Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one.
    Robin, Yaelian, Hels, I was surprised to discovered the Bonem House just a few months ago and then to read that there are a few dozen Jerusalem Bauhaus.
    Most of them are not curvy and don't really stick out. Except, of course, the gorgeous Yeshurun Synagogue and the Schocken Library.

    Louis la Vache, I didn't know! Oi!
    But let us pray that the terrorists don't succeed in what Le Corbusier wanted to do. The media said yesterday that Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower are on the hit list. (God forbid.)

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  6. A great place to "grind" oneself; with all these corners. Great picture indeed. Thank you for teaching something I did not know before.
    Please have a good Thursday.

    daily athens

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  7. My Netanya friend is a fan of Bauhaus and kept pointing them out in Tel Aviv. I really can't see the attraction.

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  8. Hmmm... I rather like the clean lines of that house. I guess you don't have to worry about flat roofs since you're not getting much rain. The white color is good for reflecting the sun's rays, too.

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  9. 1935-36 is modern in Jerusalem, but that would be ancient in my city. There's very little more than 50 years old here. No history at all. Fascinating post, a glimpse of a very different part of the world from mine.

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  10. Dina, I hadn't heard that! (about the terrorist targets). They will be foiled, certainly. But that they would target world architectural treasures boggles my mind. The evil of it. The stupidity.

    But I want to talk about your photo. I like old things, too, but I like to think I'm open-minded, so even though this building is not to my taste I appreciate that you posted it for those who might like it. I think it's important to preserve these examples of different architectural styles. Architecture is exemplary of its period, of how we aspire to live in a certain time.

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  11. I strongly approve the comment of Luis. Not a great fan of Bauhaus either: don't ever leave a bunch of theorist build real homes. Offices and public buildings maybe, houses are another thing...

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  12. I definitely like old better, but I make an exception for glass skyscrapers, which I love equally.

    At least your modern architects consider Jerusalem's climate and topography. Most of ours don't, which make for some very uncomfortable buildings and houses.

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  13. Looks like a place Hercule Poirot would have liked.

    I'm another one of those who didn't realise that there were Bauhaus buildings down your way.

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  14. Yes to modern things too!
    When I see buildings like this (or furniture of that same era) I am always amazed at how modern they look, as if they had just been built (or designed).

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