What I see here is a simple beauty. It's not ornate or byzantine but it has classic forms and color. For me, this simplicity is perfect for a shul as the complicated designs in some places can be distracting. You can't see it here but the ceiling is blue like that of Grand Central Station. The chairs and the Aron Kodesh bring in a rich brown. The woman's balcony brings in Esher like dimension. The benches of seats also keep the place very neat looking as does the order in which they run the place. There are no used cups sitting on the windows as you might see in some shuls. For me, this is sheer beauty that works in accordance with principles of spirituality. I have heard that German design in general tends towards this elegant simplicity. While a student of Hirsch knows that not every Agadata or Midrash need be taken literally, I hope the one about the shuls being moved to Eretz Israel after the geulah are literal so that I can daven in this building in the Holy Land.
Indeed!
ReplyDeleteAlso, the seats are roomy enough that one can daven and bow in their places, without needing to step into the aisle.
Maybe you can find out more about the architect and designer(s).
Thanks.
Good idea. I'd like to know too how conscious were the choices.
ReplyDelete