The National Campus for Archeology was built to house the most valued collection of archeological treasures as well as the main offices of the Antiquities Authority, and to create a living exhibition of national archeological discovery for the general public from around the country and abroad.
The campus, its layout and building designed by Moshe Safdie Architects, includes 1600 sqm of green roof garden, an entrance plaza, and various courtyards and sunken gardens. The roof is accessible to visitors of the campus as well as serving as a public space for the surrounding museum district. It offers 360 degree views of the surrounding hills and cultural landmarks, as well as down into the internal courtyard of the campus where large mosaics will undergo restoration. Construction of the roof is not fully complete, and it will, in the future, house archeological fragments for visitors to explore.
The roof is designed to provide a quiet and naturalistic retreat for visitors while at the same time entering a dialogue with the local scenery. It makes use of the ‘borrowed landscape’ of the far-off hills and seems to meld seamlessly into them. The plantings are a horticultural interpretation of the local natural and cultural Mediterranean landscape. The trees used are traditional species of the agricultural landscape: cypress, olive, figs, and pomegranates.
Info
Client:
Israel Antiquities Authority
Team:
Barbara Aronson, Ittai Aronson, Svetlana Sirota, Ayelet Ben David
Campus and building design: Moshe Safdie Architects
