Dora Gad
Encyclopedia
Dora Gad was an Israeli interior designer, whose work had significant influence on the development of modern Israeli architecture.
in Vienna
, and received her diploma in engineering and architecture. There, she met her future husband, Heinrich Yehezkel Goldberg, an architecture student. They married in 1936, immigrated to Mandatory Palestine and settled in Tel Aviv
.
By the 1950s, the couple were already prominent interior designers in Israel. During these years they changed their name to the Hebrew name, Gad. They were involved in the planning of many government buildings and institutions.
Gad also co-operated with Ruth Dayan
and fashion designer Pini Leitersdorf at Maskit and used many of their “folklore” products in her design projects.
After the death of Yehezkel Gad in 1958, Gad established a partnership with Arieh Noy, an employee in her office. In 1959 she married Efraim Ben Arzi, a former general and prominent public figure. The Gad-Noy firm continued to work on governmental projects, and they were responsible, in 1965, for the design of the Israel Museum
, together with architect Al Mansfeld, and in 1966, for the interior design of the Knesset
building.
The Gad-Noy firm operated until 1976. Gad continued to work independently in both the public and private sectors until her death, in 2003.
Early life
Dora Gad (née Siegel) was born in 1912 in Campulung, Romania. She grew up in the home of her grandfather, and attended Hebrew school and a government-run school. Between 1930 and 1934, she studied at the Technische HochschuleTechnische Hochschule
Technische Hochschule is what an Institute of Technology used to be called in German-speaking countries, as well as in the Netherlands, before most of them changed their name to Technische Universität or Technische Universiteit in the 1970s and in the...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, and received her diploma in engineering and architecture. There, she met her future husband, Heinrich Yehezkel Goldberg, an architecture student. They married in 1936, immigrated to Mandatory Palestine and settled in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
.
Career
Gad found her first position with architect Oskar Kauffman. In 1938 she began to work independently, and her early projects led her towards interior design. In 1942 she began to design private apartments together with her husband. Her style was light and modern, drawing from local inspiration; abundant light, and local building materials. Gad incorporated locally available fabrics, wool carpets, woven work, straw and felt in her designs. Her style set her apart from many European educated architects of the day, who maintained more European styles of architecture.By the 1950s, the couple were already prominent interior designers in Israel. During these years they changed their name to the Hebrew name, Gad. They were involved in the planning of many government buildings and institutions.
Gad also co-operated with Ruth Dayan
Ruth Dayan
Ruth Dayan was married to the Israeli general and defense minister Moshe Dayan. She founded the Maskit fashion house and is active in many social causes.-Biography:...
and fashion designer Pini Leitersdorf at Maskit and used many of their “folklore” products in her design projects.
After the death of Yehezkel Gad in 1958, Gad established a partnership with Arieh Noy, an employee in her office. In 1959 she married Efraim Ben Arzi, a former general and prominent public figure. The Gad-Noy firm continued to work on governmental projects, and they were responsible, in 1965, for the design of the Israel Museum
Israel Museum
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem was founded in 1965 as Israel's national museum. It is situated on a hill in the Givat Ram neighborhood of Jerusalem, near the Bible Lands Museum, the Knesset, the Israeli Supreme Court, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
, together with architect Al Mansfeld, and in 1966, for the interior design of the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
building.
The Gad-Noy firm operated until 1976. Gad continued to work independently in both the public and private sectors until her death, in 2003.
Projects
- The residence of the Prime Minister (Jerusalem, 1950)
- The residence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Jerusalem, 1950)
- The Sharon and Accadia luxury hotels (Herzliyyah, 1955)
- The Israeli National Library (Jerusalem, 1956)
- Israeli Embassies in Washington D.C. and Ankara
- The New York offices of EL AL, the national airline (New York, 1956 and London, 1959)
- The vessels of Zim, the national shipping line (together with the Mansfeld-Weinraub firm, 1955–1975)
- The Tel Aviv Hilton HotelsHilton HotelsHilton Hotels & Resorts is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by, or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels became the first coast-to-coast...
(1965) and the Jerusalem Hilton (1974) - The EL AL terminal at Kennedy airport in New York (1970 and 1974)
- The Ben Gurion International AirportBen Gurion International AirportBen Gurion International Airport , also referred to by its Hebrew acronym Natbag , is the largest and busiest international airport in Israel, handling 12,160,339 passengers in 2010...
(1973) - The Bank of IsraelBank of IsraelThe Bank of Israel is the central bank of Israel. It is located in Kiryat HaMemshala in Israel's capital city of Jerusalem, with a branch office in Tel Aviv. The current governor is Stanley Fischer.-History:...
(Jerusalem, 1980) - The Presidential residence in RehaviaRehaviaRehavia is an upscale Jerusalem neighborhood located between the city center and Talbiya.-History:Rehavia was established on a large plot of land purchased in 1921 from the Greek Orthodox Church by the Palestine Land Development Company . The area was known at the time as Ginzaria, a native...
, Jerusalem, 1984–1985)
Prizes and awards
- In 1966, Gad won the Israel PrizeIsrael PrizeThe Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is largely regarded as the state's highest honor. It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the...
, in architecture. - Also in 1966, she also received the Regulo D’Oro design prize, awarded annually by the Italian magazine DomusDomusIn ancient Rome, the domus was the type of house occupied by the upper classes and some wealthy freedmen during the Republican and Imperial eras. They could be found in almost all the major cities throughout the Roman territories...
, for her plan of modular concrete units.
See also
- List of Israel Prize recipients