king david

Modernism design paved the way for many large-scale hotel brands like The Four Seasons, which appealed to the masses by providing luxury accommodations without pretentiousness. However, in the 1920’s through the late 30’s before large-scale hotel brands, several modernist hotels were built in British Mandate Palestine. Amongst these hotels, the King David hotel remains to be one of the most influential buildings of that era, with two hundred and forty eight prime ministers, fifty-three kings, one hundred and two presidents and twenty-four Oscars winners who stayed at this hotel. According to Daniella Ohad, an architectural historian teacher, “The King David Hotel, which opened its doors in January 1931, had a strong commercial agenda of serving tourists of all religions seeking luxury and comfort on a level previously unknown in Palestine.” As more Western guests stay at the King David Hotel, the accommodations had to be appropriate to secular as well and theist beliefs. The King David Hotel is considered to be a modern day biblical palace, with its European inspired design, biblical references incorporated in the design, and the grand accommodations that attracts heads of state, diplomats, and other prominent figures.

European design played an important role in the success of The King David. Designed by a team of Swiss architects, Emil Vogt and Gustave-Adolph Hufschmid, who were experienced hospitality designers. This hotel was Volt’s last commission and the highest achievement of his career. Volt looked for inspiration in Beaux-Arts Renaissance style palazzos, which were universally popular for grand hotels during that time. Characteristics that classify the design as European are the eastern style domes, arches, flat roofs, sym...

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...ry temple that Hiram, Phoenician king of ancient Tyre and the region’s most powerful monarch, constructed as a gesture of friendship for the Hebrew leaders.” The building uses dark stained cedar, which has its own symbolic significance. According to the Bible, King Solomon’s request that Hiram command his men to “hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon” (1 Kings 5: 6). Therefore the Temple of Solomon used cedar as the primary material used for building and furnishings. Hufsschmid included motifs in the interior spaces such as the seven species, which are the seven fruits and grains grown in biblical Israel and the shield of Solomon.

The hotel’s high ceilings, spacious public spaces, white shimmering marble floors, rich cedar paneling, and gilt surfaces all conveyed royalty and magnificence, merging biblical imagery with the ideal of the grand hotel as a palace for all.