Weizmann House

Destinations in Israel

The Weizmann House was built in 1936 as the private home of the first President of Israel, Chaim Weizmann, and first First Lady, Vera Weizmann. Designed by German-Jewish architect Erich Mendelsohn, the house is recognized as an architecturally significant 20th-century home and is now part of the Weizmann Institute of Science.


Weizmann House - Front
In This Photo: The Facade of the House
Credit: Micheal Yakobson – CC BY 2.5 – Wikipedia

The Weizmann House is located on top of a hill in Rehovot. The house was designed to look like a ship at sea, reflecting the unique juxtaposition between the modern architecture that developed in Europe during the 1930s and traditional Mediterranean influences.



The 11-acre garden surrounding the house was designed with a unique topography of terraces to represent waves. The water theme echoes in the estate’s mirror-like pool, reflecting the home’s central tower.

Who was Erich Mendelsohn?

So the designer of the house, Erich Mendelsohn, was a Jewish German architect and a contemporary of world-renowned architects Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius. In 1926, the three architects started a progressive group called Der Ring to promote modernist architecture in Berlin.


Credit: Ovedc, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Moreover, with the rise of Nazi Germany in 1933, he was ousted from the German Architects’ Union and forced to move to England, where he started anew and continued to work. Erich Mendelsohn and Weizmann’s collaboration began in 1934, with the architect planning a series of projects in Palestine during the British Mandate. In 1935, he opened an office in Jerusalem and designed Jerusalem stone buildings in the International Style.


Levinson Visitor's Center

Designed to reflect the nuances of the International Style, the Weizmann House still has Mendelsohn’s signature expressionist style. After Chaim Weizmann’s death, his widow, Dr. Vera Weizmann, continued to live in the house until she died in 1966. It was opened to the public as a museum in 1978.

Weizmann House – Visitor Information:

Hours: Sun – Thurs. 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Visits must be arranged in advance by calling: 08-9344499

Additional information can be found at http://www.chaimweizmann.org.il 

arik-about

Hi! My name is Arik, an Israeli native who dedicated his life to sharing my passion for the Holy Land with those interested in knowing more about this incredible piece of land. I’m the Chief Guide at ‘APT Private Tours in Israel’.

Did you know the Hoopoe is Israel's national bird?! For more cool info about Israel, join our ever growing community and get exclusive travel tips, and giveaways!

Eshtaol Forest

RELATED POSTS

Amud Cave

Amud Cave is a limestone cave located in the Galilee region. The cave is renowned for its archaeological significance and its rich history

Ketef Hinnom

Ketef Hinnom is an archaeological site of immense historical and biblical significance in the Hinnom Valley of Jerusalem.

Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve

Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve is a park that has restored once locally extinct animals back into the region. For nature lovers, it's a must!

Caesarea Maritima National Park

Caesarea Maritima, formerly Strato’s Tower, also known as Caesarea Palestinae, was an ancient city on the coast of the Mediterranean, now in ruins and included ...

The Burnt House

The Burnt House Museum presents an excavated house from the Second Temple period situated below current street level in Jerusalem.

Mensa Christi Church

Mensa Christi Church is the site where according to Christian tradition Jesus and the apostles dined, after his Resurrection in his hometown.

Chapel of Saint Helena

The Chapel of Saint Helena is dedicated to Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, credited to discover the True Cross of Jesus.

Beit Shean National Park

Beit Shean National Park is one of the country’s largest biblical tels with a glorious Roman and Byzantine past! Read this post for more!

Joseph’s Tomb

Joseph’s Tomb is a funerary monument located at the eastern entrance to the valley that separates Mounts Gerizim and Ebal; not so far from Jacob’s ...

Kidane Mehret Church

The Kidane Mehret Church holds a rich tapestry of stories, traditions, and devotion that dates back centuries.

Need help?

Skip to content