The Israeli embassy in Paris is located in a nineteen-century building, close to the Champs Ellysee avenue. In 2002, the building was burned completely leaving its envelope considerably damaged.
The architectural concept of the embassy reconstruction was to create a harmonic combination between two cultures: the 19th century French architecture and modern contemporary Israeli architecture. The embassy building became a place that celebrates the marriage of two languages and two cultural identities using the architecture as a dialogue.
The challenge was to preserve the historical architecture stone façade and classical main staircase of the building while creating an entirely new modern structure with Jewish spiritual values incorporated within the old existing stone envelope. An inner courtyard was created as an intimate space with a small fountain, a stone wall, 3 olive trees and a sculpture. The sculpture creates is meant to symbolize a space that promotes the idea of peace, freedom and tolerance.
The project of a surface of 4,500 sqm was built in a short period and was inaugurated in the presence of both, Israeli and French ministers of foreign affairs and the mayor of Paris on February 14, 2004.
