The Haifa Auditorium is part of a complex of buildings called the "Rappaport Center for Culture and Art" which also includes the "Beit Hecht" (formerly the Rothschild House), the "Cinematech Haifa" and the "Rappaport Hall".
the auditorium
It is a large hall containing over 1,100 seats and to which another 350 seats can be added in a unique configuration. The hall has excellent acoustics and sophisticated stage facilities. The spacious foyer allows for the presentation of changing exhibitions and the existence of a cafe. The auditorium is used as the home hall of the Haifa Symphony Orchestra and for the presentation of shows from various fields: theater, dance, band, classical and light music and film screenings.
The building was designed by the architects Al Mansfeld and Danny Havkin and inaugurated in 1974. During its construction, the building was covered with stone slabs that created a mosaic. Over the years, the stone slabs began to fall off, until a safety hazard was created. Therefore, in 2000, the metal cladding of today was installed in its place, in the design Architects' office Mansfeld-Kathe.
Rapaport family
The Rappaport family is a very extensive family of priests. The father of the family was the rabbi of the Cremona community in Italy. The family includes rabbis, intellectuals, musicians, doctors, actors, scientists, painters and businessmen.
Baruch Rappaport, (1922-2010), a businessman born in Haifa who lived in Geneva, donated much of his fortune to Haifa institutions such as: Faculty of Medicine building, Rambam Children's Hospital and toThe cultural center in the center of which stands the auditorium - a welcome combination of health and culture.
Architect Al Mansfeld (1912-2004)
Mansfeld was born in Saint Petersburg, the capital of the Tsars. He began his architectural studies in Berlin and after his expulsion from there in 1933 by the Nazi regime, he continued his studies in Paris, where he graduated with honors. In 1936 he moved to Haifa and worked there for about 20 years in partnership with the architect Monio Guitai-Weinroib.
In 1959 he won a design competition Israel's museum (with editor Dora Gad). He designed many dozens of buildings throughout the country. His works in Haifa include: Tikotin Museum (with Yoshimoro Junzo), Khushi's father's house (in Sh. Jezreeliya) f"Beit El" Synagogue. Received Israel Prize for Architecture For 1966 (together with Dora Gad) for planning the Israel Museum. For the design of the auditors building received the Richter Award (Together with Edr. Danny Havkin). He was also awarded the title "Dear Haifa".
His office, which he founded about 90 years ago, continues to create architecture under the management of his son, Dr. Mickey Mansfeld, and his partner Dr. Haim Kahat.
Architect Danny Havkin (1925-1993)
Havkin was born in Haifa, studied architecture at the Technion, where he graduated in 1950. He taught at the Technion and served twice as Dean of the Faculty of Architecture. As mentioned, he was a partner of Prof. Al Mansfeld (1964-1974). His works in Haifa include: residential building "N" Ramat Hadar (with Edr. S. Gilad), Shaar Aliya neighborhood (1976, with Al Mansfeld) andDormitories on the Technion campus Son of Shanan (with his wife Aksa Chavkin).
Adequate disclosure: I was privileged to be appointed with the students of Professors Al Mansfeld and Danny Havkin together.
The auditorium and the international film festival in Haifa
Every year, the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival are held in the auditorium. Also, many films are screened in it and in the adjacent halls as part of the festival. This year will mark 40 years since the beginning of the Haifa International Film Festival, which will be held every year in Sukkot.
Dear readers
The articles in this section are based on open information published in sources such as Wikipedia and other websites and may include various historical inaccuracies arising from the aforementioned sources.
The ground on it is an auditorium and a shopping center owned by Yehezkel Nathaniel, of course as his name was. A Jew of resistant Lebanese descent, Aviv Haim Nathaniel established a truck transport line from Iraq to Haifa and from Haifa to Iraq. Later, Father Khushi asked to purchase the land from Nathaniel at any price after Father Khushi's death under special conditions, which the treasury approved, the land was purchased by the Haifa municipality and the auditorium was built, and over the years Baruch Rafffenert Haifa, who owns a chain of refineries in Europe, raised donations for the continued construction and development of the place. Instead of an open amphitheater where the artists used to perform there.
Thank you very much for your comment, very interesting information. Shabbat Shalom!
Haifa Municipality commemorates non-Haifa singers in Givat Zemar - while they are still alive.
The best architects who designed and built in the city won awards and recognition - the Haifa municipality does not think that it is necessary to commemorate at all.
Where is Al Mansfeld Street?
Where is Shlomo Gilad Street?
Where is Moshe Gerstel Street?
Where is Philip Street?
Where is Richard Kaufman Street?
And many others…
Is planning hundreds of buildings and neighborhoods in Haifa less respectable than writing poems and books?
Thank you very much for your response, with which I identify 100%!
One of the most beautiful halls in Israel. And I am happy to see that Haifa continues to be a cultural asset in our country
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The auditorium was originally designed and covered with strips of 4.5 x 4.5 cm ceramic mosaic tiles - in two shades - which were originally glued onto gauze. The gluing to the structure was performed poorly, so some of the tiles fell off and created stains. After years of a shabby look, it was decided to remove the mosaic and replace it with strips of aluminum cladding.
It should be noted that at the end of the 50s a 1.0*1.0 cm ceramic mosaic was designed and executed in the walls of the Carmelite station. Then they knew how to build properly.
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In the 60s I saw the Belgian singer Jacques Berel at the James de Rothschild house amp on the lawn.
Thanks for your comment, I envy you for such a show - Berel is one of my favorite singers, have a good week!
An interesting and mainly technical and historical article.
The name Capital/Culture implies something, but does not specify.
And there is something to detail.
Relative to such a large facility, one would expect it to have more varied contents, as it was in the old days when the Rothschild House was run by artists and not officials of a management company. (Apart from the film festival which is a great Haifa gem)
Thank you for your response. To remind you that the articles in the section are not intended to criticize this or that institution. There are other sections for this. good week!
It should be noted that there was a stone building in the shape of a castle in the auditorium lot (I have no details of who the building belonged to and what its purpose was) the theater is open where the best artists and bands of the 50's and 60's from all over the world performed.
Thanks for your comment, very interesting, have a good week!
Thanks for the article.
It seems to me that the Baha'i believers held their international conferences in the lobby of the building.
An uncommon sight here, of a large crowd gathering
and conducted in masterly silence.
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All the best to you my friend Dr. David Bar On. Shabbat peace and blessing to you.
Thank you very much, dear Rafi, have a good week!