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COOPER CITY , FLORIDA
TEMPLE BETH AHM ISRAEL, WITH A GROWING YET MODEST CONGREGATION IN SUBURBAN
COOPER CITY, FLORIDA HAD OUTGROWN ITS EXISTING FACILITIES. THE NEW SYNAGOGUE
INCLUDED A SANCTUARY AND SOCIAL HALL AS WELL AS THE REORGANIZATION OF THE TEMPLE'S
HEBREW SCHOOL AND DAY CARE.
THE NEW BUILDING, APPROXIMATELY 21,000 SQUARE FEET IS SET A REAR OF THE PROPERTY
AND BECOMES A UNIFYING ELEMENT ON THE SITE BY PRESENTING A NEW PUBLIC IDENTITY. THE
DESIGN OF THE BUILDING ADDRESSES SEVERAL SCALES: MASSING AND FENESTRATION
APPROPRIATE FOR A RELIGIOUS BUILDING AS READ FROM THE STREET; THREE DIMENSIONAL
ORGANIZATION FORMALLY ARTICULATING PRAGMATIC ELEMENTS; ESTABLISHMENT OF CLEAR
RELIGIOUS HIERARCHY; DEVELOPMENT OF CLEAR SENSE OF PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION
ENHANCES ENTRY, CEREMONY, MULTI-USE MANAGEMENT, SECURITY, PRIVACY AND VARIETY OF
EXPERIENCE.
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA
THE DAUGHTERS OF ISRAEL AFTER BEING ASKED BY THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH TO MOVE FROM
THEIR FORMER SITE ON SOUTH BEACH TO MAKE ROOM FOR A CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX, THEY
RELOCATED THEIR NEW MIKVEH ON LAND OBTAINED IN A LAND SWAP WITH THE CITY.
THE NEW BUILDING, USED FOR HALACHIC "RITUAL BATHS", IS APPROXIMATELY 4,500 SQUARE
FEET, AND IS SET BACK ON THE EDGES OF MIAMI BEACH'S PAR 3 GOLF COURSE.
THE BUILDING CONTAINS A CENTER CIRCULAR ROTUNDA, WITH A RECEPTION AREA AND BEAUTY
BAR, TWO MIKVEHS AND EIGHT DRESSING ROOMS.
THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING ADDRESSES SEVERAL RELIGIOUS ISSUES:
1. TE PROPORTIONS OF THE BUILDING ARE MEASURED IN "CUBICS" AND NOT IN INCHES OR
CENTIMETERS;
2. ALL MATERIALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUILDING ARE NATURAL WITH NO METAL PIPES
ALLOWED;
3. RAIN WATER IS COLLECTED ON THE ROOF AND STORED IN CONCRETE CISTERNS;
4. THE SIMPLE CUBIC FORMS AND THE NATURAL SETTING OF THE BUILDING ESTABLISHES
THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCH A PRIVATE RITUAL.
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA
THE RENOVATION OF AN ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUE LOCATED IN MIAMI BEACH IN A RETAIL
SHOPPING CENTER STOREFRONT. THE CONGREGATION ASKED THAT THE SANCTUARY BE
REMODELED WITH A NEW BIMAH AND CONGREGATION SEATING AREA.
