In Jerusalem, the capital of a modern country enthralled by its past, a unique national archaeology campus is being built. The project—commissioned by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and officially named The Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel—combines three major components: storage of the national archaeological treasures (some two million items); restoration labs for objects made of various materials, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, mosaics, and glass, textile, and clay finds; and a national archaeology library and archive.
Even more unusual, said architect Moshe Safdie in a phone interview from his Boston office, “was the decision to enable the public to move through it…to experience what is going on operationally without disturbing the work.” This decision reflects what Safdie called Israelis’ “passion and interest in the people and the history of the country.” The main vehicle for that passion is archaeology, “which constantly unveils new information,” he said. His firm won the competition to design the campus in 2002, beating out Israeli architects Ada Karmi-Melamede, Dina Amar, and Nachum Meltzer.
You have 0 complimentary articles remaining.
Unlimited access + premium benefits for as low as $1.99/month.