A New Pyramid Rises in Jerusalem

We all know it’s been a bang-up year for starchitect-designed pyramids, and, not to be sold short, Studio Libeskind are lending their signature style to this trend with their recently approved proposal for a new 105 meter tall (344') mixed-use pyramid tower in Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda market. The stoically named 26-story Pyramid building will feature 200 apartments, a boutique hotel, and a pedestrian commercial plaza that will all, of course, pale in comparison to the views afforded from the rooftop observatory and restaurant. 20% of those units will be affordable and the building’s facade will be clad in a geometric pattern composed of Jerusalem stone and glass, echoing vernacular traditions with contemporary materials and detailing.

“The Pyramid mediates between ancient traditions and myths, while providing a 21st century reinterpretation of that great form,” architect Daniel Libeskind explains, “The design complements the context and gives the neighborhood a vibrant public space in the heart of the ancient city,” added Libeskind. When asked about the pyramid shape, the architect goes on to state, “ The pyramid, like the dome, is one of the fundamental forms of architecture. Its historical associations are resonant and global.  The history of the form has deep roots in the Near and Middle East from the Great Pyramid of Giza in the Arab world to farther afield in Sudan, Nigeria, Greece, Spain, Thailand, China, India, Mesoamerica, and islands of the Pacific Ocean. The pyramid form maximizes daylight on the public piazza below, creates dynamic views along the axes of the old city and creates a dramatic apex at the top for the observatory.” With this project, perhaps future generations will associate Paris, New York, and Jerusalem with great pyramidal works of architecture.

You’ll have to wait awhile to enjoy the plaza, as the project is not set to break ground until 2019. Until then, check out this 350lb chandelier designed by Libeskind inspired by the history of light. Studio Libeskind’s other works can be found here.

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