Kdoshei Meron

The project proposes a memorial structure dedicated to the 45 victims of the Meron disaster, one of the most significant tragedies in the history of the State of Israel. The design seeks to translate the event into a conceptual and symbolic architectural language.
The design process is based on deconstructing the tragedy into an abstract iconographic system, which is then reassembled into a sequence of signs and movements that form the main circulation path. The primary facade is oriented upward, expressing a sense of elevation and tension, echoing the intensity of the event and its collective memory.
The facade facing the direction of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s tomb is divided into 45 facets, each shaped as a bottle-neck form. Together, they create the image of an open book, reflecting the interpretation of the tragedy and the uniqueness of each victim, most of whom were young—like pages of a life story cut short.
At the heart of the structure stands a central column, surrounded by 45 additional vertical columns. Each column represents one of the victims, with its height corresponding to their lifespan, emphasizing the fact that many of the victims were young.