Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects Inc

Congregation Beth Sholom

Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven

CONGREGATION BETH SHOLOM

Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects

LOCATION
301 14th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States

AREA
2694.0 sqm

PROJECT YEAR
2008

PHOTOGRAPHS
Rien van Rijthoven

CATEGORY
Worship

LANDSCAPING
Blasen Landscape Architecture

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Overaa Construction

MANUFACTURERS
AEP Span, Gammalux, Kawneer, Hunter Douglas, Nene Wood Acoustical, Progress Glass

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Forell/Elsesser Engineers Inc.

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Rumsey Engineers

CLIENT
Congregation Beth Sholom

BUDGET
US $11,933,000

PROJECT TEAM
Stanley Saitowitz, Neil Kaye, Markus Bischoff, John Winder, Derrick Chan

Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven

Text description provided by architect.

The site is at the intersection of Park Presidio and Clement Street. An early plan established a pair of religious structures as gateposts along this boulevard.

Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven

One is the strong presence of the neo-classical Christian Science Church. The other is congregation Beth Sholom.

A plinth is established. This contains the daily chapel, meditation space, library, offices and meeting rooms. On this plinth two buildings are placed forming a courtyard.

Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven

One is the masonry sanctuary, a vessel floating in air, the other a radiant cube housing the social hall.

The entry sequence establishes the distinction of a sacred place through passage. It is a circular journey of turning and rising and turning.

Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven

The point of arrival is the courtyard. From here all the elements of the complex are accessed.

The design for the sanctuary begins from the inside with the creation of a sacred room, a space in the round, focussed on the central Bimah from where the services are conducted.

Congregation Beth Sholom
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven

A slice of sky in the ceiling turns into the eternal light above the Ark on the Eastern Wall. A shadow menorah animates the wall tracing the movement of the sun through the day and illuminated at night.

All light enters the room from above with views of the sky creating a sense of sanctity and remove in the midst of the noise and bustle of the city. The walls and ceiling floating above are connected with light.

Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven

The essential aspect of Conservative Judaism is that women and men participate equally in the liturgy.

Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven

The Orthodox Jewish Tradition of women separated in a balcony or by a curtain is eliminated. The room is a vessel focussing worshipers in a single community centered on the Bimah.

Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven
Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven

The expression of this interior is the exterior of the building. The exterior also remembers the Western Wall in Jerusalem, using the color and form of the stones of the ancient temple.

The second building, sheathed in zinc, contains the social hall, which opens to the court. It marks the corner with a thin tower like slice.

This building, in contrast to the masonry sanctuary, is reflective and light.

Congregation Beth Sholom
© Rien van Rijthoven


Congregation Beth Sholom
Model
Congregation Beth Sholom
Model


Congregation Beth Sholom
Section 1
Congregation Beth Sholom
Section 2
Congregation Beth Sholom
Section 3
Congregation Beth Sholom
Section 4
Congregation Beth Sholom
Elevation 1
Congregation Beth Sholom
Elevation 2


Congregation Beth Sholom
Sections
Congregation Beth Sholom
Ground Floor Plan
Congregation Beth Sholom
Third Floor Plan
Congregation Beth Sholom
Second Floor Plan
Congregation Beth Sholom
Elevations
Congregation Beth Sholom
Site Plan

Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects Inc
T +1 415 6268977 F +1 415 7017900
Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects Inc
1022 Natoma St UNIT 3, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States