Ramat-Hanadiv memorial gardens were laid out in 1954 around the tombs of Baron Edmond de Rothschild and his wife Ada, not far from ZichronYa'akov in northern Israel. Beyond its value as one of Israel's major public parks, Ramat-Hanadiv is an important center for scientific research and environmental education.
A semi-excavated, green-roofed visitor center designed by Ada Karmi-Melamede was added in the late 2000's, in addition to a support area which includes offices, workshops, greenhouses, storage, technical and service facilities. As Ramat-Hanadiv's activity expanded with time, additional office space was needed for a new education department.
The site chosen for a new building was an internal lot, tucked between the existing offices to the east and a technical facility to the west. The new building completes the peripheral morphology of the support area to form an internal courtyard. Adhering to the local building code, the facades are exposed concrete and unplastered masonary blocks.
The building is divided by a main circulation axis - a corridor that crosses its entire length from east to west, continuing the existing offices’ axis. Under a deep concrete overhang, glass entrance doors open up to the high, clerestory lit corridor.
The offices to the north of the corridor benefit from high windows overlooking the greenhouses. All public spaces are to the south: a meeting room, a kitchenette, a lounge and a common workstation.
The large eastern window of the meeting room is shaded by a concrete block Mashrabiya. The low morning sun filters through the Mashrabiya to draw squares of light that line the interior to slowly fade away as the sun rises higher. The southern window, shaded by a deep overhang, overlooks a pre-existing cherry plum tree. Spring’s intense pink bloom contrasts with the gray concrete and enlivens it.
The lounge and kitchenette enclose an inner patio with a shading mulberry tree. The kitchenette’s high bar overlooks the visitor center’s green roof through a horizontal strip window.
Interior is lined with natural birch wood: the corridor is layered with three horizontal registers – the top clerestory, a dividing white plaster band and a lower layer of alternating glass office doors and natural wood panels; The birch bookcases are set with recycled dark fiberboard panels, and the wooden desks have metal "bird feet"; The natural wood kitchen cabinet incorporates green polymeric surfaces.
This building adds a contemporary layer to the historical gardens, further connecting nature with built environment, bringing in views of both man-made and wild nature. Whisps of wind and reflections of sunlight filtered through the tree branches make a happy atmosphere for a creative working environment.
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