Kimmel Eshkolot Architects’ Memorial Hall Of Israel’s Fallen

Tel Aviv-based architecture practice Kimmel Eshkolot Architects was selected by the Israeli Ministry of Defence to design this memorial as a place for collective and private grief. A 250-meter long wall that wraps around the building is made up of more than 23,000 aluminum bricks. Each brick is engraved with the name of a deceased soldier and marks the date of their death. On every anniversary, incandescent lights shine on the brick and a candle is lit as a mark of respect. The wall has been called the ‘Wall of Names’. These bricks are arranged in a funnel-shaped formation that opens the space up to the sky and to natural light.

The practice endeavored to create a “secluded space of contemplation” away from the hubbub of the city. Mount Herzl Memorial Hall sits atop Israel’s National Cemetery, a cemetery that can be found in west Jerusalem, above the daily noise and clamor of city life. The memorial building has been built into the underside of the mountain, allowing it to blend with the topography of the cityscape.