Master Class in Conservation and Architecture 06: Jerusalem Series — The Hasbon Complex: Conservation vs. Urban Renewal

The first session in the Jerusalem Series focuses on the Hasboun Complex, where an intensive urban renewal plan was recently approved. The historic Hasboun Complex is a rare surviving example of Jerusalem’s traditional building typology: four historic buildings constructed over a span of 150 years. Located in the City Center neighborhood, near the planned light rail line, the complex occupies a strategic position in the ongoing transformation of central Jerusalem. The new plan proposes three towers ranging from 43 to 45 stories, approximately 950 additional housing units, commercial, office, and hotel spaces, alongside the conservation of historic buildings within the complex.

The architectural design, commissioned from the Dutch architecture firm MVRDV, proposes an unconventional intervention in Jerusalem’s urban landscape and raises questions about the relationship between the height of the towers and the low-rise historic buildings designated for conservation; the human scale; and the role of the ground floor in processes of urban densification. The towers’ cladding also prompts a discussion about the place of Jerusalem stone in contemporary architecture and the relationship between new materials and local building traditions. The plan’s intensive mix of uses further raises questions about the character of the local community and the intended audience for the development.

Through these questions, we will explore the role of urban renewal in shaping narratives and cultural heritage, and examine the tools, questions, and opportunities that emerge at the intersection of conservation and development in Jerusalem.

Featuring:

• Arch. Sharon Schlossberg Dinur, Head of the Preservation Department at the Jerusalem Municipality

• Arch. Gideon Maasland, MVRDV 

Professional Management and Moderation: Arch. Sharon Golan, Head of the Liebling Haus Research Lab

Content Production: Arch. Shelly Kauschansky, Liebling Haus Research Lab

The event will be held on Zoom; a link will be sent upon registration.

The Master Class in Preservation and Architecture – Jerusalem Series offers a broad perspective on architectural preservation as a field that connects research, building culture, and thinking about the future of the city. Through selected case studies from Jerusalem’s urban fabric, we will explore the complex relationship between preservation and the need for renewal, examining the tensions between the two. We will consider how Jerusalem’s built environment, and sites facing renewal in particular, embody rich layers of meaning that raise questions about time, memory, building culture, industry, and society.