The Van Leer Institute
A design for an architectural contest, for the design of Van-Leer Research institute, Jerusalem.
An invitation for an architectural competition for the planning of the famous Van Leer Research Institute Campus, on Hanasi St, Jerusalem.
Our firm participated in an invited competition for the design of the famous Van-Leer Institute, and our design finished at the 2nd place.
The design principles that stood before us in submitting the project to the competition were:
To respect and preserve the trees, buildings and spirit of the compound and to turn the site into an orchard: a place fragrance, of calmness. We wanted to turn the place into a uniform entity that consists the buildings, the terraces, the yards, the pool, the water fountains – all protected from the outside. To create a campus with a clear urban presence that invites the public to be a part, and still, to create an intimate atmosphere within the boundaries of the complex. In addition, to introduce to the public buildings with a unique language: raised from the ground, with terraces with a rough texture underneath, with carved stones above and separated by a thin glass stone – closed from the outside, and transparent and shaded from the inside.
To allow development in stages, with deep consideration of flexibility, an economic approach to the utilization of the complex.
