Mario Botta: The Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Center Tel Aviv University

Mario Botta The Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Center Tel Aviv University by Norbert Cymbalista, Aron Dotan & Roman Hollenstein

8vo. pp. 143. numerous illustrations. paperback wrs. [Corte Madera, CA]: Skira / Gingko Press, [2001].

New.

ISBN-10: 12584230924 / ISBN-13: 9781584230922
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Mario Botta has become the world's foremost architect of churches and museums. To a series of great buildings that have been dubbed fortresses of art and culture he has added his first synagogue, a remarkable building that masterfully interprets the fundamentals of the Jewish religion. With the Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Center at Tel Aviv University Mario Botta is considered to have created a breakthrough in synagogue construction. Strikingly modern in style it is unencumbered by reminiscences and tradition, but still succeeds in providing a comforting feeling of protection. Several of its structural elements are symbolic: the two columns at the main entrance are reminiscent of Solomon's Temple, light comes in only from above, and there are no decorations or windows to distract from prayer.