120 The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute and Polonsky Academy
Architects of the original Van Leer campus buildings: Reznik Architects and Powsner Architects, the 1960s; Architects of the new construction design and the Polonsky Academy: Chyutin Architects, 2014
The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute for the study of humanities and social sciences opens its doors for visits and tours at this avant-garde building. In recognition of its design, Chyutin Architects received a lifetime achievement award for excellence in architecture in 2018 and the EMET prize for architecture in 2020.
The session with the architect Bracha Chyutin (on Friday, October 16th), who designed the new construction blueprint for the Van Leer compound as well as the Polonsky Academy, will start with a brief lecture about the project, which won an architecture competition in 2008. During the two-hour session that will include the lecture and the tour that follows it, participants will hear about the new construction blueprint and the building that was designed in a contemporary style. Use was made of cutting-edge construction techniques, while also integrating the new construction into the previous fabric of the buildings in a harmonious fashion.
For the design of the Polonsky Academy and other groundbreaking projects, Chyutin Architects received a lifetime achievement award for excellence in architecture in 2018.
The lecture will be held in the Van Leer auditorium near the entrance to the Institute.
The Thursday tours will be led by members of the Open House Weekend staff. The 30-minute tours will leave from the lobby in the main entrance.
Exhibitions that are part of the Jerusalem Biennale – De Profundis – are currently on display in the building.
Entry to the Institute’s library will not be possible.
