Weizmann House

Coordinates: 31°54′23.23″N 34°49′6.83″E / 31.9064528°N 34.8185639°E / 31.9064528; 34.8185639
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View of the entrance to the Weizmann House


The Weizmann House (

First Lady, Vera Weizmann. The house sits atop a hill in Rehovot, and is now part of the Weizmann Institute of Science. The house was designed by Jewish architect Erich Mendelsohn
, and is recognized as a masterpiece.

History

In 1934 Chaim Weizmann, who was then living in England, asked Mendelsohn to plan his house in Israel — after hearing of Mendelsohn's project for

s 8d.[1] Though this house was designed for the Weizmanns, they lived there only after the Second World War, several years after it was ready for them. When the Weizmanns were not home the house was lived in by visiting world leaders, luminaries, and guests.[2] After the house was completed difficulties between the architect and clients continued: Chaim Weizmann was displeased with Mendelsohn over imperfections in the building such as dampness in the winter,[1] and Vera Weizmann chose her own interior decoration over that of Mendelsohn.[3] The house now displays the art and objects that the Weizmanns had collected.[4]

The design of the house was met with praise early on. One guest, the niece of Arthur Balfour described it as "a modern, aristocratic house, in harmony with its surroundings, well suited to its purpose, fully expressing the soul of its owners, and, like them, a national treasure."[5][6] Beginning in 1949 until Chaim Weizmann's death three years later, the years Weizmann served as President of Israel, the house functioned as the official residence of the President.[3]

The house was adapted into a

Ezer Weizmann.[4][5]

Architecture

The house was designed in keeping with the

stairwell, half facing the courtyard of the house with a pool in its center. Although courtyards enclosed on four sides are an architectural typology
, in this case the front facade of the house blurs the boundary between the interior of the house, and the natural environment, both because of this openness to the landscape and the open space above through the roofing.

Mendelsohn designed a number of buildings in Israel in addition to the Weizmann house, including several buildings at the Sieff Institute which would later become the

Rambam Hospital, and the Anglo-Palestine Bank building, now the Bank Leumi in Jerusalem.[9]

Gardens

The gardens on the grounds of the complex are the resting place for Chaim and Vera Weizmann.

Gallery

  • Weizmann Residence in 2021
    Weizmann Residence in 2021
  • Interior view of the spiral staircase tower
    Interior view of the spiral staircase tower
  • Interior view down spiral staircase tower
    Interior view down spiral staircase tower
  • Library Weizmann House
    Library Weizmann House
  • Iranian minister Reza Saffinia arriving at the Weizmann House, to greet Chaim Weizmann on Yom Ha'atzmaut, 1950
    Iranian
    Yom Ha'atzmaut
    , 1950

Notes

  1. ^ a b Weizmann Institute of Science, A Dream House at Minimal Cost, Interface, Fall/Winter 2000
  2. ^ Esther Carmel-Hakim, Vera Weizmann: 1881 – 1966 Jewish Women's Archive
  3. ^ a b Yael Zisling, The Weizmann House, Gems in Israel, December 2000
  4. ^ a b Ruth Heiges, Home of Chaim Weizmann elevated to museum quality, World Zionist Press Service, 5 May 2000
  5. ^ a b c Weizmann Institute of Science, Weizmann House: History and Architecture, accessed 13 September 2009
  6. ^ HaCohen, David (28 September 2006). "Renovation Recognized: Certificates for Outstanding Projects" (in Hebrew). Ynet. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  7. ^ Stamp at www.israelphilately.org.il, accessed 13 September 2009 (in Hebrew)
  8. ISBN 2-84162-077-8
  9. ^ Lili Eylon, Erich Mendelsohn - Oriental from East Prussia Architecture Week, 24 January 2001
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31°54′23.23″N 34°49′6.83″E / 31.9064528°N 34.8185639°E / 31.9064528; 34.8185639

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