Obj. ID: 30679
Jewish Architecture Liberal Synagogue in Amsterdam, Netherlands
The construction of this synagogue, designed by the architectural firm SeARCH, started in 2008 and completed two years later. It is in use by the Liberaal Joodse Gemeente (LJG) of Amsterdam and replaces the former synagogue along the Jacob Soetendorpstraat. The building itself is considered to be a ‘multifunctional synagogue’ and is one of the largest synagogues in the Netherlands as it can hold approximately 800 congregants. Besides providing religious services, it functions as an educational and socio-cultural space and includes classrooms, a cinema/theater, a prayer hall, a kitchen area, a library, meeting rooms and a mikveh.
The exterior of the building is unusual for synagogue architecture but it does contain subtle Jewish references like the tile patterns in the shape of the Star of David, the large side window in the form of a menorah and a Hebrew inscription at the main entrance which refers to Psalm 16:8. The Torah ark is located behind this menorah-shaped window. The bimah is situated in the center of the assembly hall, in line with the Torah ark. Two balcony levels above the benches of the ground floor offer an overall view of the entire assembly hall.
The design of the building was awarded with the Amsterdamse Architectuur Prijs in 2011.