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Jerusalem's Hip, Historic Neighborhood

[New York Sun] Jay Akasie - A noted architect has skillfully drawn on his knowledge of history and antiques to design one of the most striking and beautiful urban spaces in the world. Most of the Mamila-Alrov Quarter opened this season in Jerusalem, capping off a 35-year quest of the Canadian-Israeli architect Moshe Safdie to create a thoroughly modern shopping and dining destination just outside the walls of the Old City. "I always saw this project as a bridge between the old and new cities, a place where Israelis and Palestinians could interact and where everyone could come together," he said. The $400 million development includes a 270,000-square-foot pedestrian mall and shopping center complete with antiques, art galleries, book stores, and coffee shops. It also boasts 200 residential luxury units overlooking the walls of the Old City. Many of the oldest structures in Mamila were preserved. Many buildings were disassembled, their stones numbered, and then reconstructed after a parking garage took shape underneath the boulevard.
2008-09-12 01:00:00
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