אדריכלות ישראלית

Architecture of Israel #

117

May

2019

Atarot Mall

page

english readers

The new Atarot Mall is worthy of attention

as it may well serve as a social bridge

between the Jewish population on the

one side of the separation wall, and the

Palestinian population on the other.

Located in the Industrial zone near the

Beit Horin junction and the Ramallah

road (east), the Mall is both far from the

city-center and far from being a buyers’

attraction.

Lacking in any identifiable urban context

it was difficult to assimilate the 30,000

meter mall facing the separation wall

between the western and the eastern city.

The building is light-stone-clad to serve

as a passive background to the colorful

store windows, while the Mashrabiya

eastern motif constitutes a conceptual

way of integrating the building into

its surroundings. It serves both as a

functional traditional partition, allowing

the penetration of natural light, as well

as an abstract element appearing in the

graphics, the marble flooring, and the

printed glass of the entrance structure. At

dark, the internal illuminated activities are

reflected outside.

The idea of attracting buyers from a broad

variety of populations initially seemed like

a security problem. However, like Rami

Levy’s other revolutionary ideas, the Mall

is a tested way to create a social bridge

between Jerusalem residents in general

and surrounding villages in particular.

social

spatial solidarity

atarot mall jerusalem

Had it depended on ordinary people and not on politically motivated leaders, it

is likely that the relationships between the various sectors in Israel would look

different. This is because daily interaction based on existential needs is always

stronger than any other factor. It isn’t without reason that Arab laborers are prepared

to do anything in order to make a living: get up at four in the morning, walk for

miles, reach the border crossing, undergo security checks that are anything but

a pleasure, and travel for many kilometers to start working at six in the morning at

jobs no Israeli is willing to do. This, while many Israelis are addicted to the smell of

fresh products offered in Arab villages, enjoy wandering around markets, standing

in line at authentic restaurants, adhering perfectly to Emil Durkheim’s definition of

the "organic" (spatial) solidarity conducted between differences – as opposed to

"mechanical", trans-spatial solidarity that exists between the similar.

Approximately 250,000 inhabitants who

until recently had to travel to the Talpiot

or Malchah Malls in the south of the city,

can now enjoy a mixture of 40 chain

stores that carry leading brands, as well

as restaurants, cafes, and a large popular

supermarket.

In this context, space organization plays

a great role mainly in the intermediate

areas. Located near the separation wall,

the idea does raise security concerns, but

its social advantage is already proven:

the Mall constitutes a natural arena for

random interaction between religious,

secular, Jewish and Arab populations.

Built on two levels the Mall is placed

between the three parking lots. Located

on the upper parking level against the

silhouette of the nearby Mosque, a glazed

entrance in the upper square leads to the

commercial Mall beneath.

The square contains food stores and

restaurants with seating areas that lend it

the nature of a public space, connected

to a 5,000 sq.m. Rami Levi supermarket,

which in recent years has become a

"pilgrimage" for supermarket consumers

across the country.

Chen Architects Ltd.

Office Partner: Nili Chen.

Project architect:

Micha Polison.

Photos:

Shai Epstein.