A new addition to the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, the 2,500 m² Advanced Inter-Arts Center, expands this famed institution’s footprint to allow a larger program in performance arts. The design celebrates the interactive philosophy of an institution dedicated to bringing artists together across disciplines.
The new building’s intricate façade presents a strong aesthetic and contextual statement, with a curtain wall over the building’s glass façade, comprised of an arrangement of Jerusalem stone blocks. It is also sustainable, forming a barrier to the sun’s heat and presenting an innovative design for cooling a building in the Middle East. Turned 45 degrees, the stone blocks create the appearance of a solid unit dissolving in parts to allow for the interior to peek through. The materials’ dramatic effect leaves a classic, timeless finish while celebrating a traditional material in an unexpected way.
The building design creates a set of spaces that respond to the diverse uses and requirements of the Academy. By entering, there is a unique public area- a meeting place and community hub for students and faculty from all disciplines. Arranged around a central double height area connecting the different rooms and spaces, the building provides the conditions for the interchange between different fields of dance and music, which is vital to the academy.
The atrium space continues the materiality of the facade by using the same stone placed on the floor instead of the wall, creating a smooth visual and textural journey from the outside towards the inside. A central, almost sculptural staircase in exposed concrete dominates the space, bringing together people from the music and dance departments.
The facilities include a music recital hall of 115 seats, a dance studio, a jazz and improvised music studio of 90 seats, a vocal and opera studio of 60 places, and 14 practice and teaching chambers.
