Binyanei HaUma
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The International Convention Center (, ''Merkaz HaKongresim HaBeinLeumi''), commonly known as Binyanei HaUma (, lit. ''Buildings of the nation''), is a concert hall and convention center in Giv'at Ram in
Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
.


History

Binyanei Ha'Uma was first envisioned by Alexander Ezer (who later became its managing director) and planned by architect Zeev Rechter who won the design competition in 1949. The complex was under construction from 1950 to 1963. In 1953, it was the site of Israel's first international exhibition, the
Conquest of the Desert The Conquest of the Desert () was an Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, Argentine military campaign directed mainly by General Julio Argentino Roca during the 1870s and 1880s with the intention of establishing dominance over Patagonia, inh ...
. In 1960, the
World Zionist Organization The World Zionist Organization (; ''HaHistadrut HaTzionit Ha'Olamit''), or WZO, is a non-governmental organization that promotes Zionism. It was founded as the Zionist Organization (ZO; 1897–1960) at the initiative of Theodor Herzl at the F ...
convened there. The period of economic difficulty and austerity in the first decade of Israeli independence led to frequent disruption in construction due to lack of funds, and the project was sometimes disparagingly called ''Hirbet HaUma'', the National Ruin. Rechter's design was a solid structure faced in
Jerusalem stone Jerusalem stone (Hebrew: ; ) is a name applied to various types of pale limestone, dolomite and dolomitic limestone, common in and around Jerusalem that have been used in building since ancient times. One of these limestones, '' meleke'', has ...
. Instead of a monumental
relief Relief is a sculpture, sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces remain attached to a solid background of the same material. The term ''wikt:relief, relief'' is from the Latin verb , to raise (). To create a sculpture in relief is to give ...
by artists Joseph Zaritsky and
Yitzhak Danziger Yitzhak Danziger (; 26 June 1916 – 11 July 1977) was an Israeli sculptor. He was one of the pioneer sculptors of the Canaanite Movement, and later joined the " Ofakim Hadashim" (New Horizons) group. Early life Danziger was born in Be ...
as originally planned, the facade was covered with azure-coloured glass panels.


Capacity and functions

Located opposite the Jerusalem Central Bus Station at the western entrance to town, the centre houses 27 halls capable of seating over 10,000 people, and is a member of the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) and ICCA and conforms to their international standards. Its largest hall, the
Menachem Ussishkin Menachem Ussishkin ( ''Avraham Menachem Mendel Ussishkin'', ; August 14, 1863 – October 2, 1941) was a Russian-born Zionist leader and head of the Jewish National Fund. Biography Menachem Ussishkin was born in Dubrowna in the Belarusian ...
auditorium, seats 3,104. In all, 12,000 square metres of exhibit space extend over two levels and ten display areas. Binyanei Ha'Uma is the home of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. The complex has hosted many international events, among them the
Eurovision Song Contest 1979 The Eurovision Song Contest 1979 was the 24th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Jerusalem, Israel, following the country's victory at the with the song "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta. Organised by the Euro ...
,
Eurovision Song Contest 1999 The Eurovision Song Contest 1999 was the 44th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held on 29 May 1999 at the International Convention Centre in Jerusalem, Israel. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Isra ...
and the Jerusalem International Book Fair. The trial of
John Demjanjuk John Demjanjuk (), born Ivan Mykolaiovych Demjanjuk (), was a Trawniki and Nazi camp guard at Sobibor extermination camp, Majdanek, and Flossenbürg. Demjanjuk became the center of global media attention in the 1980s, when he was tried and ...
was held there.


Development plans

Plans are being discussed to enlarge the ICC by 30,000 square meters, doubling of the parking space, adding three office towers, commercial space and a hotel.


Cultural references

The Center serves as a historical setting in Robert J. Sawyer's 1997 novel ''Frameshift''. It serves as a post-
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
venue for a
war crimes trial A war crimes trial is the trial of persons charged with criminal violation of the laws and customs of war and related principles of international law committed during armed conflict. History The trial of Peter von Hagenbach by an ad hoc tribun ...
, in which a Nazi camp guard is prosecuted for atrocities against the Jewish prisoners.Sawjer, Robert J. ''Frameshift''. Tor, 1997, pp. 46–51.


Gallery

Sheikh Badr and Jerusalem Convention Center from the air.jpg, Jerusalem Convention Center (Binyanei HaUma) shortly after completion, circa 1960 Yitzhak Ben Zvi Binyaney Hauma1960.jpg, 25th
Zionist Congress The Zionist Congress was established in 1897 by Theodor Herzl as the supreme organ of the Zionist Organization (ZO) and its legislative authority. In 1960 the names were changed to World Zionist Congress ( ''HaKongres HaTsioni HaOlami'') and Wor ...
, 1960 Dan Hadani collection (990044380600205171).jpg, The fourth Jerusalem book fair, in the International Convention Center, 1969. From the collections of the
National Library of Israel The National Library of Israel (NLI; ; ), formerly Jewish National and University Library (JNUL; ), is the library dedicated to collecting the cultural treasures of Israel and of Judaism, Jewish Cultural heritage, heritage. The library holds more ...
. International Multi-Cultural Festival with Dr. Jaerock Lee(2009, Israel).jpg, International Multi-Cultural Festival with Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee, 2009 Barack Obama at the Jerusalem Convention Centre.jpg, US President
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...
waving students after the speech, March 2013


See also

* Architecture in Israel


References


External links


International Convention Center (Jerusalem) official website (English page)

Jewish Agency for Israel (owner)
{{Authority control 1950 establishments in Israel Buildings and structures completed in 1963 Buildings and structures in Jerusalem Concert halls in Israel Economy of Jerusalem Convention centers in Israel Jewish Agency for Israel