Page 284 - The Architecture of Nadler-Nadler-Bixon-Gil
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1958–86 The Jerusalem (Sherover)
Theater and Concert Hall,
Jerusalem
First prize in competition, 1958-71; alterations and
additions (Rebecca and Henry Crown halls), until 1986
A sculpture by Yehiel Shemi at the The firm’s plan for the Jerusalem Theater overcame 69
entrance lobby under construction, other proposals submitted to the competition in 1958.
1960s The original proposal utilizes similar components to those
פסל של יחיאל שמי במבואת הכניסה בעת used in other structures the firm planned in Jerusalem
60 שנות ה־,הבנייה at the time, such as the National Library, Beit Elisheva,
and the International Center for Youth: a sealed floating
p. 280: Entrance façade rectangular box extending beyond a ground level. The
with concrete relief by Yehiel decision to move the theater from the allocated plot to one
Shemi, 1971 nearby, and long delays in finalizing the commission, led
חזית הכניסה עם תבליט:280 'עמ to an updating of the original plan that included essential
1971 ,בטון מאת יחיאל שמי changes in light of the spirit of the times, further developed
when Shmuel Bixon joined the firm.
The first part of the building was inaugurated in
1971, with the completion of the 1,000 seat Sherover Hall,
donated by Gita and Miles Sherover (who lived across
the street). Unlike the original competition submission,
the building’s sculptural appearance stands out amid the
neighborhood houses. The architects chose to incorporate
a specially commissioned concrete relief by the sculptor
Yehiel Shemi on the building’s monumental façade, thus
reinforcing the theater’s public status. Shemi included
other concrete sculptures in the building – one in the
main entrance hall, and two in internal passageways. The
entire complex was completed only in 1986, with the two
additional concert halls – the Henry Crown Hall (800 seats)
and the Rebecca Crown Hall (450 seats) – and two small
theater halls (120 and 140 seats each).
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