Habima Square
Encyclopedia
HaBima Square is a public space in the center of Tel Aviv
, Israel
, which is home to a number of cultural institutions such as the Habima Theatre, the Fredric R. Mann Auditorium and the Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art. The square is located at the intersection of Rothschild Boulevard
, Hen Boulevard, Dizengoff Street
and Ben Zion Boulevard.
in the late 1920s. Geddes envisioned a kind of a modern "Acropolis
", where the city's main cultural venues would be (the center was originally planned to house city hall as well). In the Geddes plan, this would be the cultural core of Tel Aviv, while Dizengoff Square
nearby would be a commercial center of a different character.
The cornerstone of Habima Theater was laid in 1935. The building was planned by architect Oscar Kaufman in the International style
and finished in 1945. The square was inaugurated next to the theatre, additional buildings being added only two decades later. Between the 1930s and the 1950s, the area housed an educational farm and urban nursery, with a grove of Sycamore
trees. Most of the trees were eventually uprooted (causing public outrage) but two of the trees were integrated into the Ya'akov Garden.
On June 28, 1948, seven weeks after the Israeli Declaration of Independence, Tel Aviv was the temporarily national capital of Israel while Jerusalem was under siege. On this day, the IDF
was declared the national army, in the presence of the mayor Israel Rokach
and the foreign minister Moshe Sharett
at a ceremony that took place in the square.
The Helena Rubinstein Pavilion of Contemporary Art, planned by architects Dov Karmi
, Ze'ev Rechter, and Ya'akov Rechter, was established in 1952. At the same time, the Fredric R. Mann Auditorium was constructed, but inaugurated in 1957, as the home of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
. When the auditorium was planned, an underground parking lot and an urban plaza were planned too, but due to budgetary considerations, only the northern area of the compound was developed as a plaza. Most of the compound area used as a temporary parking lot.
A year after, Habima was declared the national theater of Israel. Thus the importance of the compound as a national culture center was increased. In 1970, the theater was renovated and a wall was built around the southern circular side of the entrance hall.
During July 2011 the square became a major focal point of the 2011 housing protests in Israel, when Daphne Leef pitched her tent there, followed by hundreds more.
was launched in 2007, encompassing both the Habima Theater and the plaza. While most of the compound had previously served as a parking lot, the goal of the latest renovation was the construction of an underground lot, allowing the compound to serve as a big plaza. On June 7, 2010 the underground "Culture Parking Lot" was opened with an area of 40,000 m² and 1,000 parking spaces.
In September 2010, the Ya'akov Garden renovation was completed. A ramp that had led to the garden's upper-balcony was demolished and Chen Boulevard was connected to the square. The renovation of Habima was completed In January 2011, with the renovation of the entire compound in April.
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, which is home to a number of cultural institutions such as the Habima Theatre, the Fredric R. Mann Auditorium and the Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art. The square is located at the intersection of Rothschild Boulevard
Rothschild Boulevard
Rothschild Boulevard is one of the principal streets in the center of Tel Aviv, Israel, beginning in Neve Tzedek at its southwestern edge and running north to Habima Theatre. It is one of the busiest and most expensive streets in the city, being one of the city's main tourist attractions...
, Hen Boulevard, Dizengoff Street
Dizengoff Street
Dizengoff Street is a major street in central Tel Aviv, named after Tel Aviv's first mayor, Meir Dizengoff.The street runs from the corner of Ibn Gabirol Street in its southernmost point to the port area of Tel Aviv in its northwestern point...
and Ben Zion Boulevard.
History
The idea to establish a cultural center was originally proposed in the Geddes Plan, the first master plan of Tel Aviv planned by Patrick GeddesPatrick Geddes
Sir Patrick Geddes was a Scottish biologist, sociologist, philanthropist and pioneering town planner. He is known for his innovative thinking in the fields of urban planning and education....
in the late 1920s. Geddes envisioned a kind of a modern "Acropolis
Acropolis
Acropolis means "high city" in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel . For purposes of defense, early people naturally chose elevated ground to build a new settlement, frequently a hill with precipitous sides...
", where the city's main cultural venues would be (the center was originally planned to house city hall as well). In the Geddes plan, this would be the cultural core of Tel Aviv, while Dizengoff Square
Dizengoff Square
Dizengoff Square is an iconic public square in Tel Aviv, on the corner of Dizengoff Street, Reines Street and Pinsker Street...
nearby would be a commercial center of a different character.
The cornerstone of Habima Theater was laid in 1935. The building was planned by architect Oscar Kaufman in the International style
International style (architecture)
The International style is a major architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, the formative decades of Modern architecture. The term originated from the name of a book by Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson, The International Style...
and finished in 1945. The square was inaugurated next to the theatre, additional buildings being added only two decades later. Between the 1930s and the 1950s, the area housed an educational farm and urban nursery, with a grove of Sycamore
Ficus sycomorus
Ficus sycomorus, called the sycamore fig or the fig-mulberry , sycamore, or sycomore, is a fig species that has been cultivated since ancient times...
trees. Most of the trees were eventually uprooted (causing public outrage) but two of the trees were integrated into the Ya'akov Garden.
On June 28, 1948, seven weeks after the Israeli Declaration of Independence, Tel Aviv was the temporarily national capital of Israel while Jerusalem was under siege. On this day, the IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
was declared the national army, in the presence of the mayor Israel Rokach
Israel Rokach
Israel Rokach, Honorary CBE was an Israeli politician, Knesset member, and mayor of Tel Aviv from November 15, 1936 to April 13, 1953.-Biography:...
and the foreign minister Moshe Sharett
Moshe Sharett
Moshe Sharett on 15 October 1894, died 7 July 1965) was the second Prime Minister of Israel , serving for a little under two years between David Ben-Gurion's two terms.-Early life:...
at a ceremony that took place in the square.
The Helena Rubinstein Pavilion of Contemporary Art, planned by architects Dov Karmi
Dov Karmi
- Biography :Karmi was born in 1905 in Odessa, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire. In 1921 he emigrated to British-ruled Palestine ....
, Ze'ev Rechter, and Ya'akov Rechter, was established in 1952. At the same time, the Fredric R. Mann Auditorium was constructed, but inaugurated in 1957, as the home of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is the leading symphony orchestra in Israel. It was originally known as the Palestine Orchestra, and in Hebrew as התזמורת הסימפונית הארץ ישראלית The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (abbreviation IPO; Hebrew: התזמורת הפילהרמונית הישראלית, ha-Tizmoret ha-Filharmonit...
. When the auditorium was planned, an underground parking lot and an urban plaza were planned too, but due to budgetary considerations, only the northern area of the compound was developed as a plaza. Most of the compound area used as a temporary parking lot.
A year after, Habima was declared the national theater of Israel. Thus the importance of the compound as a national culture center was increased. In 1970, the theater was renovated and a wall was built around the southern circular side of the entrance hall.
During July 2011 the square became a major focal point of the 2011 housing protests in Israel, when Daphne Leef pitched her tent there, followed by hundreds more.
Renovation
A more comprehensive renovation by architect Dani KaravanDani Karavan
Dani Karavan is an Israeli sculptor best known for site specific memorials and monuments which merge into the environment, though he has made important installations as well as other significant contributions to art and architecture.- Biography :Dani Karavan's father Abraham was the chief...
was launched in 2007, encompassing both the Habima Theater and the plaza. While most of the compound had previously served as a parking lot, the goal of the latest renovation was the construction of an underground lot, allowing the compound to serve as a big plaza. On June 7, 2010 the underground "Culture Parking Lot" was opened with an area of 40,000 m² and 1,000 parking spaces.
In September 2010, the Ya'akov Garden renovation was completed. A ramp that had led to the garden's upper-balcony was demolished and Chen Boulevard was connected to the square. The renovation of Habima was completed In January 2011, with the renovation of the entire compound in April.