Mazel Tov!

The heart of the city of Munich contains beautiful architectural variety as a result of cultural influences typical of Bavaria and later centuries. Walking through the center of the city we can be juxtaposed between the old medieval city and the resulting urban and architectural modifications.

It's amazing to think that even though the city was bombed during the Second World War, Munich still retains a subtle nostalgia for the past through the complete reconstruction of its buildings. And at the heart of this metropolis, are the rebirth of one of the cultural components that had always been present in society: The new synagogue Ohel Israeli Jakon and Israeli Cultural Center.


St.Jakobs-Platz. Photography © Melissa Schumacher.

The first time I found the synagogue, walking down a street nearby and accidentally between crossroads, was seen the sand-colored building tucked away as a silent architectural element that drew attention and invited the curious to come. And as I approached this space, there was a beautiful open square and in the center a unique contemporary building.

This cultural and social space has several areas of interaction as the Synagogue, the cultural center, the Jewish Museum, and a kosher restaurant. With this, we recall the Jewish presence in the city's history when they formed an active part of academic, business, and daily life. But this was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War.


Integration with context. Photography © Melissa Schumacher.

This building, designed by Andrea Wandel, Hoefer Andreas, Wolfgang Lorch, and Nikolaus Hirsch (Wandel-Hoefer-lorch.de), was opened in 2006 and in 2011 won the Deutsche Architecturpreises. This social center is a clear example of the cultural composition of the public spaces. The synagogue, which returns to the center of the cultural and commercial activity of Munich, makes the spirit of the Jewish community an interesting social integration in one of the busiest areas of the city and just 5 minutes walk from City Hall and neighboring the beautiful Viktualienmarkt.

The building with a facade of bronze, glass, and travertine, covers a sandy color gamut rusted steel. Despite being modern architecture, the building fits perfectly into the context of St.Jakobs-Platz. Respecting the buildings surrounding the square and in turn, allow you to place as a hierarchical element within the public space.  As a square and straight volume, a contrast to the aerial view and sloping red roofs of the remaining historic buildings. In addition to his references to Jewish history, the Synagogue pays homage to the victims of the Holocaust and the persecution of their community.


Rectangular volume and transitional. Photography © Melissa Schumacher.

Personally, I think the contextual integration of this building is correct since the general trend of new construction in historic centers is closer to the striking and commercial architecture without any respect to the surrounding buildings. In Munich, there are other architectural atrocities that have nothing to do with the heart of the city, but the synagogue meets the challenge of a good architect to combine functionality and aesthetics.


Full view of the cultural center. Photography © Melissa Schumacher.

Definitely, this is the real task of the profession, and today many do not comply. Examples such as the Synagogue and Cultural Center are worth to be seen also as a reminder of the historical memory of a country. That certainly is something that Germany is well aware of their future generations and countries such as Mexico should learn about it.

IN TREATMENT - METALOCUS.

DIRECTOR: JOSÉ JUAN BARBA. COORDINATION: INÉS LALUETA. ORGANIZATION: INÉS LALUETA, PEDRO NAVARRO. GUESTS SECOND SEASON: JOSÉ JUAN BARBA, JAVIER SANCHO, FRANCISCO PELAEZ, MICHAEL MORADIELLOS, MELISSA SCHUMACHER, VERÓNICA ROSERO, AINHOA MARTÍN.