Abandoned Jerusalem planetarium to become home for Einstein museum
An abandoned planetarium in Jerusalem will be converted into a museum dedicated to Albert Einstein as part of a US$5m (€4.2m, £3.8m) project to showcase his personal archives.
Architects Arad Simon are behind the plans, which will see a museum and visitor centre built on Hebrew University's Givat Ram campus in Jerusalem, Israel.
Arad Simon were selected from four local firms, with the university saying the winning proposal was “modest, not grandiose, and it spoke to us”.
According to the plans, the visitor centre will sit inside the dome of the 500sq m (5,381sq ft) building, while the archive and research space will sit in its rectangular area.
An entrance lobby – which will also host temporary exhibitions – will feature Einstein’s historic library, which is designed as a semi-transparent wall of books separating the visitor centre from the archives and research wing. It will also include a retail store and administrative office.
Inside the dome, the building’s floor will be partly excavated, designed as a bowl so visitors can lie down and look up at the planetarium’s ceiling, which will show milestones from Einstein’s life.
In the planetarium’s upper dome, 12 'wells' of light will display the movement of the sun during the day, with the darker area reserved for displays of Einstein’s studies.
The rectangular part of the building will also feature a meeting room, preservation and photography room, and a conference hall.
Working in partnership with the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, the planetarium conversion will become a part of the city’s Museum Row and will benefit from enhanced accessibility thanks to Jerusalem’s new light railway.
No date has been set for work to start on the project, with a capital funding campaign soon to be launched.
Jerusalem visitor attraction Einstein Museum Albert Einstein Arad Simon Peres Center for PeaceHeneghan Peng's Palestinian Museum opens 18 May
Herzog & de Meuron's National Library of Israel breaks ground in Jerusalem
Israel Museum tree house reinvigorates public meeting space
Daniel Libeskind creates iconic pyramid tower for the heart of Jerusalem
Einstein Museum planned for Jerusalem
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
From climate change to resource scarcity, Exploration Architecture uses biomimicry to address some of the world’s major challenges. Its founder tells us how