Herzog & de Meruon designs Israeli National Library

An exterior view of Jerusalem’s new Israeli National Library in the early stages of construction featuring low-rise conrete building with a slant curve roof. Photographed from a distance

Jerusalem’s new Israeli National Library is in the early stages of construction, courtesy of Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron

(Image credit: Herzog & de Meuron)

By Mary Pelletier

last updated 14 August 2022

With the weight of history firmly on its shoulders, Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron is in the midst of constructing one of Israel’s most valuable cultural institutions – its National Library.

The cornerstone for the library’s new permanent home was laid in Jerusalem this April, signalling the start of a four-year construction process in which Herzog & de Meuron aims to unite a number of distinct elements central to the ancient city and the changing state of the modern library.

The new structure will cover 34,000 sq m in West Jerusalem’s National District, amid the nation’s most important civic and cultural institutions, including the Israel Museum and the Knesset. While the city’s architectural heritage conjures images of the narrow, stone-walled streets and souks of the Old City, its crosstown location is defined by contrasting modernity, with plenty of room for the library’s central structural element: a sweeping, singular curve of Jerusalem limestone that forms its upper volume.

Unsurprisingly, books will take centre stage here – a central skylight continues downward through the stone upper levels of the library, creating an illuminated, central void where each curve is lined with books.

Collaborating with Israeli architectural and planning firm Mann Shinar, Herzog & de Meuron has also considered the Library’s mission to evolve in the digital age, marrying the physical collection with the need for creative, interdisciplinary, and often virtual approaches. Five glass vitrines make up the bottom two floors, anchoring the library with its physical collection, rendering the inner-workings of the space visible to passers-by. The stone mass, which sits at the entry level, will also host an exhibition programme, café, bookstore, auditorium and youth centre, with free-flowing access to the central reading room.

'The diversity of functions and the connection to the city ensure that the library will remain a strong and vibrant institution in the future,' Herzog & de Meuron says.

An aerial view of West Jerusalem’s National District photographed during the day from the sku — The library’s permanent home is in West Jerusalem’s National District, amid the nation’s most important civic and cultural institutions, such as the Israel Museum and the Knesset

A low-rise conrete building with a slant curve roof, photographed with trees on the side, people in front of the building and blue skies behind the building — The relatively low-rise building’s impressive form is created by a single, sweeping curve clad in off-white Jerusalem limestone

A bookstore with a central round skylight illuminating the book lined walls below. — Inside, the tomes take centre stage, with a central round skylight illuminating the book-lined walls below

An auditorium in the building with the seating facing towards tall glass windows with a view of an open space. Textured walls and ceiling lights hanging from white ceiling — Herzog & de Meuron collaborated on the project with Israeli architectural and planning firm Mann Shinar

INFORMATION

For more information, visit Herzog & de Meuron's website (opens in new tab)

Imagery courtesy Herzog & de Meuron

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