A Modern Design for Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem

The Tel Aviv-based Chyutin Architects recently won a competition for the new Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, replacing a previous scheme done by Frank Gehry. The museum is located at the heart of modern Jerusalem's rejuvenated city center, on the borderline between the spacious Independence Park and the urban environment. The location is a meeting site of three main streets which differ in character and function. 

The building is divided into two horizontal wings: a three floors floating upper wing which hosts the theater and social meeting spaces, and a two floors lower sunken wing which hosts the children and the adult museums exhibition spaces. The entrance floor is located at the level of the public square hosts a restaurant and gift shop. The entrance floor is leading up to the floating wing or down to the sunken one. A four-leveled lobby connects the floating wing and the sunken one. Part of the floating wing is suspended over ground level, creating a gap, or a doorway, from the city to the park.

The archeological garden serves as an outdoor space for the sunken wing, contributing to the activities of the exhibition spaces. The garden is connected to the street level by a terraced slope which can be used as a seating area for outdoor performances. 

[via ArchDaily]