Between Bar Giora and Rashi streets lies a residential complex with groundbreaking planning, but it is not included in the Haifa Municipality's list of "buildings for preservation."
The building
The complex was built in the 40s according to the plans of architect Theodore Menkes. The large building follows the lines of Bar Giora and Rashi streets, creating an elliptical shape at the corner that curves between the two streets.
The project was built on a 15-acre plot of land created by the merger of 14 plots. It consisted of a 3-story building above an encroaching columned floor with 28 staircases. Each floor had 2 apartments facing both the street and the open space in the center of the complex.
Between the two arms of the U formed by Bar Giora and Rashi streets, the height difference between which is approximately 20 meters, a private public area was planned for the building's residents, which included a swimming pool for adults, a swimming pool for children, a sports field and a garden. This recreational area could be viewed from the apartment rooms that faced it. In addition, the apartments also enjoyed a view of the bay.
It is known that the project was only completed in the 40s, although its planning was completed as early as the 30s. The apartments designed for the Jews of the fifth immigration from Germany – the Hayeks – presented a modern planning concept in the spirit of the Bauhaus. The impressive design of the central area was never carried out, although the architect planned it in quite detail. One of the hallmarks of the complex is the extensive use of concrete precasts woven throughout the entire project, an element that to this day gives the entire complex a special character. A similar approach – the use of a recurring element – was taken by architect T. Menkes in the design of the “Glass House”, at 28 Bar Giora Street. The building is finished with grooved plaster similar to the joints of concrete block construction, called “clean construction”.
At the point where Bar Giora and Rashi streets connect, at the bend of the complex, on the ground floor there were several shops that opened onto a nice plaza - another noteworthy planning concept by architect Menkes.
Architect Theodor Menkes
Theodor Menkes (1906-1973), born in Austria, studied architecture in Vienna, where he also began his professional career. With the Nazi takeover of Austria (1938), he immigrated to Israel and settled in Haifa. For about 40 years, he designed dozens of residential buildings in Haifa for Jews and Arabs alike. As mentioned, one of them – the Glass House – is located on the same street, Bar Giora, at number 28. His buildings all bore the characteristics of the Bauhaus style, and in all of them he made extensive use of glass blocks, which became his trademark.
Epilogue
Unfortunately, the planning of the central garden was never carried out, and thus the residents of the complex did not get to enjoy the unique advantage of the complex. Today, the area constitutes a kind of natural, undeveloped park.
The changes and additions made to the building over the years have managed to almost completely erase the architect's original sad features, except for the special prix-fixes. Today, the shops are not in operation, and at least one of them has become a synagogue, as evidenced by the sign above it. The plaza in front of the shops, which must have once been bustling with life, is now empty of people but serves as a place to collect trash cans. The lower square is also devoid of life. I did not find a sign declaring the project a "building for preservation," even though many architecture students come here to learn what quality and groundbreaking design is.
I didn't understand why there wasn't even a single picture of the building... Is it a military area? Are there mirrors there that reflect the sun's rays? The drawings are beautiful, but one picture is worth it, you know...
It's a shame! The municipality has not acted to preserve poor buildings and it has no publicity. It has other very beautiful buildings. The problem is not in the municipality but in people who destroy the buildings and do not appreciate the architectural beauty. I am Edith, I bought an apartment in the poor Theodore Menkes building and contacted the municipality without the knowledge of the tenants to declare the building for preservation. They have not yet acted on this matter. You should send the petition to the municipality
This section is based solely on illustrations, there are enough pictures elsewhere. Shabbat Shalom!
The entire area around the huge, ugly housing development in Rashi and Bar Giora needs to bring in bulldozers to destroy all these hideously ugly masterpieces.
Give building rights there for 3-4 buildings of 15-20 floors above a large, spacious commercial center that can be used by all the streets in the area instead of going to the malls. A commercial center that will have an internal pedestrian street out of nowhere, like a spacious city square with two rows of shops and a supermarket that trucks will enter from the square from a street that operates on the operations floor, and above that there will be a commercial center with a large city square.
It will also upgrade the entire appearance of the area, which has become very negative and depressing due to the aging of the buildings and ugly building additions and overcrowding.
Establishing a huge construction clearing for the entire complex could also provide parking levels, could also provide a supplier level for goods trucks in the parking lot, and above it could provide a huge, high-quality plaza area in a fairly crowded area and provide commercial stores and a supermarket that are sorely lacking on all the streets in this area.
Now imagine that the same square at the upper Rashi Street level would also be connected by a pedestrian bridge to the sports center and the renovation of the swimming pool on Hapoel Street, and imagine what a wonderful place for families to live could be created instead of the existing terrible situation.
Thank you for your response. You are a fan of demolition and new construction, I am a fan of preservation as much as is appropriate. Shabbat Shalom!
The building is listed for preservation. I live in it.
On Shivat Zion Street 1 (Stanton) stands a very interesting 7-story building that was built in the past before the establishment of the state. The building had 2 elevators, which was quite rare in Haifa. The walls were covered with wrought copper. The stairs were made of Italian marble. The building was built in 1948 and is badly damaged. I would be happy to provide details. I lived there until the XNUMXs. Thanks in advance.
Thank you for your response, I will check the information, if there is a "story," we will publish an article. Shabbat Shalom!
One building, Rashi 5, was not built at the time, and the municipality approved various and strange easements for its construction, and it is larger and more unusual than the other buildings. Every time I drive by the square at the bottom of the building, which was called Architect Menkes Square in every city, I see that it has recently been renamed. Without harming the honor of the name, it would have been appropriate to change it. In another place in Haifa, they replaced Rotary with Meno…
These buildings are in the early stages of being cleared for construction.
Nonsense, they are not. The building, by the way, is for preservation.
Wow, I didn't know. It would have seemed like just an attempt at a particularly strange corner building without shops below... and in general, Bar Giora 40 and all of these look patchwork.... It's a shame that everything is neglected and it's a shame that old buildings aren't preserved. We won't get into politics, just to say that we were really happy to enrich our knowledge through your article. Thank you!!!!!
Thank you for your response, I was happy to introduce you to another aspect of the building!
Interesting. Thank you very much.
thank you for your response.
One of the ugliest buildings in Hadar and the competition is very tough
About taste and smell…
Thank you David Bar On for a lovely article and wonderful illustrations.
Thank you very much for your response, I'm glad you're following my articles, Shabbat Shalom!
A fascinating article... and at the same time, it points to a failure in the conservation surveys, only some of which are exposed to public criticism... Did wisdom fall from the sky only to those who were privileged to conduct its surveys on behalf of the municipality? And why shouldn't the survey, like any plan, be open to public comment??? This way, perhaps more cultural assets will be utilized and, on the other hand, it will also be possible to consider the significance of sequences and boundaries in the correct perspective.
And thanks again to David for the focus on directing buildings that require it. The time has come to create a mechanism that examines how and what to emphasize and thus upgrade the values of buildings, similar to the work that was carried out in Valletta, the capital of Malta, and contributed greatly to its tourist uniqueness.
Nonsense and the building is for preservation.
Thank you for your response. The municipality has not proven that it knows how to leverage Haifa's built historical treasure. The German colony was an isolated case that has no continuation.
Why should there be conservation? All the failed mayors since Mitzna prefer bribes from building saboteurs over the good of the city
One of the most pleasant houses I've ever lived in! Mackens loved his tenants...
Thank you for your response, Shabbat Shalom!
Thank you for introducing me to a groundbreaking building and an interesting architect. It's always fun to read your column.
Thank you very much, dear Nili!