One of the world’s most ancient architectural forms, the pyramid, is experiencing a remarkable resurgence across the Middle East and Europe. Following the revelation that Egypt will be building its first pyramid in 4,500 years — not to mention Herzog and de Meuron’s recently approved triangular tower in Paris — Daniel Libeskind has now joined the party with a pointed new high-rise planned for the city of Jerusalem in Israel.
Designed in collaboration with Israeli architect Yigal Levi, the Pyramid Tower is set to rise 26 stories in the heart of the city, forming a distinctive landmark on the skyline alongside the iconic Mahane Yehuda market. The 377,000-square-foot mixed-use scheme will include 200 luxury apartments, a boutique hotel, a restaurant, and an observation deck. The building’s formal silhouette is designed as a “21st-century reinterpretation” of the pyramid, marking a shift away from the Polish-American architect’s usual style of expressive deconstructivism.
The façades of the tower are comprised of tessellating panels of Jerusalem stone and glass, a material palette that Libeskind says is “a fusion of vernacular and modern design.” Perhaps the most significant feature of the scheme is a new plaza proposed at ground level providing a large public space that merges with a covered colonnade at the base of the building. The arched arcade pays homage to traditional Middle-Eastern market typologies, providing potential space for food and souvenir stalls and al fresco restaurant seating.
Having been granted planning permission, the project is likely to break ground by 2019, with Israeli laws giving a five-year time limit for approved developments to begin construction. The building has already earned the nickname “Freedom Pyramid,” harking back to Libeskind’s proposed Freedom Tower design for the World Trade Center in New York. On completion, the building is likely to be Jerusalem’s second tallest at 340 feet.
