Wohl Centre

The Wohl Centre serves as a convention center for Bar-Ilan University in Ramat-Gan, Israel. It was built between 2001 and 2005 and covers about 42,000 square feet (3,900 square meters). The building, designed by the internationally-renowned Daniel Libeskind and a local architecture firm, the Heder Partnership, has been noted for its stark exterior and uncluttered interior. [cite journal
authorlink = The Architects' Journal/Bitter Bredt
title = RIBA Awards/International
journal =Architects' Journal
volume =
pages = 77
date = June 6, 2006] In 2006, the Wohl Centre won a RIBA International Award for its architecture. [Citation
last = RIBA
first =
title = Winners 2006
url=http://www.architecture.com/Awards/RIBAInternationalAwards/2006/InternationalAwards2006.aspx
accessdate = 2008-06-19]

Design

The building, which was Daniel Libeskind's first in Israel, was built on a relatively small budget. The ILS43 million ($7.2 million) it cost to construct the center came in part from British philanthropist Maurice Wohl. [Citation
last = Studio Daniel Libeskind
first =
title = The Wohl Centre
url=http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/projects/show-all/the-wohl-centre/
accessdate = 2008-06-19]

Three long rectangular "bars" comprise the building's base, above which rests a 1,000-seat auditorium. [Citation
last=Hecht
first=Esther
author-link=
title=The Building As Open Book
newspaper=The Jewish Week
volume=
issue=
pages=1
year=2005
date=October 2, 2005
url=] The center's angular form evokes an open book and, according to Libeskind, embodies "the interrelation between the dynamics of knowledge and the unifying role of faith." Hebrew letters inspired the shapes of the windows, which cut across a gold-colored aluminum exterior. [Citation
last=Halkin
first=Talya
author-link=
title=Libeskind building opened at Bar-Ilan
newspaper=The Jerusalem Post
volume=
issue=
pages=2
year=2005
date=October 31, 2005
url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/922842881.html?dids=922842881:922842881&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+31%2C+2005&author=TALYA+HALKIN&pub=Jerusalem+Post&edition=&startpage=02&desc=Libeskind+building+opened+at+Bar-Ilan]

References