Ron Arad Associates

Design Museum Holon

Design Museum Holon
© RAAL

DESIGN MUSEUM HOLON

Ron Arad Architects

CATEGORY
Museum

ARCHITECTS
Ron Arad Architects Ltd (RAAL)

LOCATION
Tel Aviv, Israel

AREA
4100.0 m2

PROJECT YEAR
2010

MANUFACTURER
Danpal

PHOTOGRAPHERS
RAAL, Yael Pincus, Marzorati Ronchetti

PRINCIPAL DESIGN
Ron Arad

MANUFACTURERS
Danpal

MAIN CONTRACTOR
Green Construction Ltd

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Harmel Engineering (IL)

STEEL BAND CONTRACTOR
IT, Marzorati Ronchetti

CLIENT
Holon Municipality

BUDGET
£11.1m: £2707/sqm

PRINCIPAL DESIGNER
Ron Arad

PROJECT DIRECTOR 
Asa Bruno

PROJECT ARCHITECT
James Foster

DESIGN TEAM
Marta Granda, Tavis Wright

EXECUTIVE ARCHITECT
Waxman Govrin

Text description provided by architect.

In March 2003, Ron Arad Architects (RAAL) were invited by the Municipality of Holon, to design and develop the first national Design Museum in Israel.

Design Museum Holon
© Yael Pincus
Design Museum Holon
© Yael Pincus

The Design Museum Holon is intended as the national platform for the presentation of design, the creation of a significant exhibition collection, the reflection of Israeli design in the context of world design and the endorsement of the importance of design in a young emerging state.

The site designated for the museum occupies a semi-rectangular 3,700m² lot.

The generous public plaza to the north of the site was conceived of as an appropriate introductory public space and entrance route to the Museum.

Design Museum Holon
© RAAL
Design Museum Holon
© RAAL

The gentle plateau-like topography of the site is articulated by the arrangement of the museum facilities over 2 staggered levels, connected by an external sculptural ramp – the museum’s prime circulation route.

Creating and exploiting the tension between an internal arrangement of efficient box-like spaces, and the dynamic and curvaceous external envelope, is the guiding design principle (and economic safeguard during design development) for the entire museum.

Design Museum Holon
© RAAL
Design Museum Holon
© Marzorati Ronchetti

The greater part of the museum’s external appearance is shrouded by five dominant bands of Corten steel structure which undulate and meander their way in, out and around the museum’s internal volumes.

At times in unison, or apart, enclosing space, or notionally defining it.

Design Museum Holon
© RAAL
Design Museum Holon
© RAAL

The bands act as a spine for the building - both supporting large parts of it structurally and dictating its posture in relation to its surroundings.

The topographic horizontality of the bands is further emphasised by a gradation of treated patinas and the subsequent weathering of the steel over the lifetime of the building, both of which echo the familiar geological striations of the Israeli desert.

Design Museum Holon
© Yael Pincus
Design Museum Holon
© RAAL
Design Museum Holon
© RAAL

The bands are never entirely obscured from the visitor’s sight, and act as a visual key to one’s position within the museum.

The museum which occupies a gross area of 4,100m², was built to a gross budget of ILS65m (£11.1m) , and was entirely publicly funded. Construction began in August 2006, and the Design Museum was inaugurated on the 31st January 2010.

Design Museum Holon
© Yael Pincus


Design Museum Holon
© RAAL
Design Museum Holon
© RAAL
Design Museum Holon
© RAAL
Design Museum Holon
© Marzorati Ronchetti

Design Museum Holon
Design Museum Holon
© Marzorati Ronchetti
Design Museum Holon
© Marzorati Ronchetti
Design Museum Holon
© RAAL
Design Museum Holon
© RAAL
Design Museum Holon
© Marzorati Ronchetti
Design Museum Holon
© RAAL


Design Museum Holon
Section
Design Museum Holon
Section
Design Museum Holon
Section
Design Museum Holon
Axon


Design Museum Holon
Elevation
Design Museum Holon
Elevation


Design Museum Holon
Plan
Design Museum Holon
Plan
Design Museum Holon
Plan
Design Museum Holon
Plan


Design Museum Holon
Details
Design Museum Holon
Details

Ron Arad Associates
T +44 20 72844963 F +44 20 73790499
Ron Arad Associates
62 Chalk Farm Rd, Chalk Farm, London NW1 8AN, United Kingdom