Givat Haviva- Co Lab

Givat Haviva

The historic campus at Givat Haviva was founded in 1949 as the educational center of the Kibbutz Artzi movement. The three-storey library at its heart was designed in 1952 by architect Shmuel Mestechkin in the form of a “pillbox” (the name given to the fortified guard posts built by the British during the Mandate) and was nicknamed the “Wind Tower” for its shape. The building housed the historic library of the Arab press in Israel, and features an original wall painting by artist Tamar Getter.

The project preserved the building while converting the historic library into a student center (Co-Lab) that brings together a range of activities (Hub). The main entrance, closed for many years, was reopened, and the passageways were widened to strengthen the connection between the building’s interior and the surrounding campus. Along the building’s envelope, the floors were designed with work and seating stations, as well as spaces for gathering and learning.

Planning Team: Yoav Messer Architects | Preservation & Interior Design: Megama – Rebecca Sternberg, Keren Avni | Photography: Dana Friedlander