Yaakov Rechter
Yaakov Rechter יעקב רכטר | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 June 1924 Tel Aviv, Palestine |
| Died | 26 February 2001 (aged 76) |
| Education | Technion – Israel Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse(s) | Sara Shafir Hana Maron |
| Parent(s) | Paula Singer and Ze'ev Rechter |
| Relatives | 5 children: Yoni Rechter, Ophra Rechter, Michal Loit, Dafna Rechter, and Amnon Rechter |
| Awards | Rokach Prize, 1965 Israel Prize, 1972 Arie El-Hanani Prize, 1983 |
Yaakov Rechter (Hebrew: יעקב רכטר; 14 June 1924 – 26 February 2001)[2] was an Israeli architect and an Israel Prize recipient.[3] Rechter was influenced by the works of Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, known as Le Corbusier, and one of several Israeli architects who designed Cubist buildings in Tel Aviv with flat roofs, taking their inspiration from architecture in North Africa.[4]
Biography
[edit]Yaakov Rechter was born on 14 June 1924 in Tel Aviv, in Mandatory Palestine. His parents were Paula Singer and the architect Ze'ev Rechter[5] who arrived to Israel onboard the Ruslan along with other cultural pioneers such as painter Yitzhak Frenkel and historian Joseph Klausner.[6][7][8] He grew up in his father's house, which was used as a culture center in Tel Aviv.
Rechter enlisted during World War II in the British Army's Royal Air Force. He was a guard stationed at the Stella Maris Base on Mount Carmel at night.[9] He studied architecture during the day at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, in Haifa, Palestine, graduating in 1947.[10]
In 1952 he joined his father's office of architects. Rechter was married twice, to elementary school teacher Sara Shafir, then to actress Hana Maron in 1957.[11] He was the father of five children: musician and composer Yoni Rechter, philosopher Ophra Rechter, illustrator Michal Loit, actress and singer Dafna Rechter, and architect Amnon Rechter,[12] with whom he worked,[13] forming Rechter Architects.[14]
He designed the Mivtachim Sanitarium in Zikhron Ya'akov, a brutalist architectural work that was dubbed a "masterpiece" by ArchDaily. Rechter sought to float the rooms in a serpentine manner alongside the hill's crown. The sanitarium was commissioned by the Histadrut, Israel's major labour organization. According to ArchDaily, Rechter's architecture sought to incorporate socialist ideals. After the sanitarium was shut down in the early 2000s it was renovated by Yaakov's son, Amnon Rechter, in 2010 and converted into a hotel.[15]
Rechter is considered by ArchDaily as belonging to the 'second generation' of Israeli architecture. In contrast to the sleek white stucco of the international style of his father and his fellow architects, in his early career Yaakov Rechter designed with a brutalist pallet, exposing the raw concrete surface of his projects. He used concrete heavily, not only because it was cheap at the time but also because in his opinion "[it] is certainly not local, but it's authentic in every sense."[15]
In popular culture; Monument
[edit]Rechter was portrayed by Jon Voight in the 2026 historical drama movie Monument.[16] The film also stars Joseph Mazzello as his son Amnon and Aviv Pinkas as his daughter-in-law Osnat, and is directed by Bryan Singer.[17] Set in 1999 in Israel and south Lebanon, the narrative of the true story follows Yaakov and his son tasked by the Israeli government and the South Lebanon Army to build a controversial war memorial honoring fallen Lebanese soldiers.[18][19] The concept for Monument originated after director Bryan Singer met Amnon Rechter in Israel.[17]
Notable buildings
[edit]Public buildings
[edit]
- Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot, 1953[20][21]
- Heichal HaTarbut, officially the Charles Bronfman Auditorium and formerly the Fredric R. Mann Auditorium, Tel Aviv, 1957[22][21]
- Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, 1952-59 (renovated in 2023 as the Eyal Ofer Pavilion by third-generation Rechter architect, Amnon)[23][13][21]
- Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art, 1975[21] [24]
- Atarim Square, Tel Aviv, 1975[25][21]
- National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Tel Aviv, 1976[26]
- Carmel Hospital (now Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, 1976[27][21]
- Central Library, Mount Scopus Campus, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1981
- Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, also known as the Golda Meir Center for the Performing Arts, 1994[21][28][29]
- Cameri Theater, Tel Aviv, planned by Yaakov but finished in 2003 after his death by his son Amnon
Hotels
[edit]
- Hasharon, Herzliya Pituach, 1961[21]
- Tel Aviv Hilton, 1965[30][31]
- Mivtachim Sanitarium, Zikhron Ya'akov, 1966[32]
- Herods Tel Aviv Hotel (formerly Sheraton), 1972[21][33]
- Jerusalem Hilton (now VERT Jerusalem), Jerusalem, 1974[21][34][35]
- Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel, 1977[21]
- Carlton Tel Aviv, 1980[21][36]
- King Solomon Sheraton Hotel (now King Solomon Hotel), Jerusalem, 1981[21]
- Laromme Hotel (now Inbal Jerusalem Hotel), Jerusalem, 1982[21][37]
- Holiday Inn (now Harlington Hotel), Ashkelon, 1998[38][21]
Urban planning
[edit]- Tel Aviv Promenade (Tayelet), Tel Aviv[21]
Awards
[edit]- Rokach Prize – given for "Gan Jacob", 1965.[39]
- Israel Prize of Architecture – given for Rechter's design for the Mivtachim Sanitarium in Zikhron Ya'akov, 1972.[40]
- The Arie El-Hanani Prize, Integration of Art and Architecture – given for the combination of art in construction, 1983.[41]
See also
[edit]- List of Israel Prize recipients
- Architecture of Israel
- Dov Karmi (1905–1962), his close collaborator and fellow Israel Prize-winning architect
- David Resnick (1924–2012), contemporary Brazilian-born Israeli modernist architect
References
[edit]- ↑ Death Place and date Rabbi-Nasi-Chaim-Weltburger-und-Weltwurger-in-Aktion-Band-10 Page 68, Retrieved on Scribd.com on 2013-12-22.
- ↑ נפטר האדריכל יעקב רכטר
- ↑ Awarded Israel Prize in 1972 Archived 2021-12-03 at the Wayback Machine aiq.co.il Retrieved on 2013-12-21
- ↑ The Israel Briefing Book: Israel Overview - Architecture Jewish Virtual Library. 9 June 2023.
- ↑ Born to Paula Singer and Zeev Rechter Haaretz Retrieved on 2013-12-22
- ↑ "משה פרנקל / דוד סמילנסקי - פרויקט בן־יהודה". benyehuda.org. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
- ↑ Birth date Who's who in Israel and in the work for Israel abroad By Itzhak Ben Bronfman & Cohen Publications, 1980 Retrieved through Google books on 2013-12-22.
- ↑ Harpaz, Nathan (2013). Zionist Architecture and Town Planning: The Building of Tel Aviv (1919-1929). Purdue University Press. ISBN 978-1-55753-673-0.
- ↑ "What Does Function Say About Form?; Architect Ami Ran," Architecture of Israel.
- ↑ "Yaakov Rechter". Information Center for Israeli Art. Israel Museum. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
- ↑ Married to Hana Maron Haaretz Retrieved on 2013-12-22
- ↑ Father of Dafna and Yoni Haaretz Retrieved on 2013-12-22.
- 1 2 Opening of the first exhibition of Alberto Giacometti in Israel The Jerusalem Post. 7 May 2023.
- ↑ Architecture Design in Israel. May 2013. e-architect. 9 June 2023.
- 1 2 Merin, Gili (August 6, 2013). "AD Classics: Mivtachim Sanitarium / Jacob Rechter". ArchDaily. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Israeli architects honor Lebanese soldiers in new feature film 'Monument' The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post. March 22, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
- 1 2 Brown, Hannah (March 22, 2026). "Israeli architects honor Lebanese soldiers in new feature film 'Monument'". The Jerusalem Post.
- ↑ Brandon Schreur (May 13, 2006."Monument Trailer: Bryan Singer’s Israeli Thriller Movie Stars Jon Voight | Exclusive," AOL.
- ↑ "Monument (2026) Movie Overview". Fandango.
- ↑ Designed Kaplan in 1953. Eleven.co.il/article/13510 (Russian) Retrieved on 2013-12-26.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Chyutin, Michael. "Three Generations of Rechter Architecture". Architecture of Israel.
- ↑ Designed by Rechter Architect tiuli.com Retrieved on 2013-12-22.
- ↑ Designed by Zeev and Yaakov Rechter Archived 2012-09-01 at the Wayback Machine israeltraveler.org Retrieved on 2013-12-22
- ↑ Herzliya Museum Designed by Rechter. Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine herzliyamuseum.co.il Retrieved 2013-12-22.
- ↑ Atarim Square designed by Rechter designboom.com Retrieved on 2013-12-22.
- ↑ CLAL Designed by Rechter mfa.gov.il Retrieved on 2013-12-22.
- ↑ Carmel Hospital designed by Rechter. mfa.gov.il Retrieved 2013-12-22.
- ↑ Designed by Yaakov Rechter Archived 2022-06-28 at the Wayback Machine israeltraveler.org Retrieved on 2013-12-22.
- ↑ "Yaakov Rechter Built Projects". Divisare.
- ↑ Hilton Tel Aviv Designed by Rechter tlvspot.com Retrieved on 2012-12-22.
- ↑ Azaz, Nehemia. "Hilton Hotel, Tel Aviv 1965". Nehemia Azaz Architectural Commissions.
- ↑ Mendelbaum, Sezar (August 6, 2013). "AD Classics: Mivtachim Sanitarium / Jacob Rechter". ArchDaily.
- ↑ Designed by Rechter's company Emporis.com Retrieved on 2013-12-22.
- ↑ Tall Buildings of Europe, Middle East and Africa
- ↑ Designed by Rechter Tall Buildings by Georges Binder. Page 9, Published in Australia in 2006 by The Image Publishing Group. Retrieved through Google Books on 2013-12-22.
- ↑ Carlton Hotel designed by Rechter's Company. emporis.com Retrieved on 2013-12-22
- ↑ The Transformation of Israeli Cities- Jerusalem
- ↑ Holiday Inn Designed by Rechter wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il Retrieved on 2013-12-22.
- ↑ Rokach Prize Archived 2013-10-18 at the Wayback Machine israelphilately.org Retrieved on 2013-12-21
- ↑ Israel Prize of Architecture Archdaily.com Retrieved on 2013-12-21.
- ↑ Arie El-Hanani Award Winner imj.org.il; retrieved 21 December 2013.
External links
[edit]- Official website – Official website of Rechter Architects
- Rechter Architects Archive at the National Library of Israel
- AD Classics: Mivtachim Sanitarium / Jacob Rechter on ArchDaily
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
- Brutalist architects
- Israel Prize recipients
- Israeli architects
- Israeli people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent
- Jewish Israeli artists
- Modernist architects
- People from Mandatory Palestine
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology alumni
- 1924 births
- 2001 deaths
- 20th-century Israeli architects
- 20th-century Israeli Jews
- 21st-century Israeli Jews