© 2006 Jan Derwig
SYNAGOGUE LEKSTRAAT
A. ELZAS, 1934-1937
Lekstraat 61-63, Amsterdam
ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Abraham Elzas
BUILDING TYPE:
Religious buildings
Museums and exhibition buildings
ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Abraham Elzas
BUILDING TYPE:
Religious buildings
Museums and exhibition buildings
PUBLICATIONS:
Bouwkundig Weekblad 1935 p. 297, 1938 p. 429; De 8 en Opbouw 1935 p. 278, 1938 p. 239; Wonen TA/BK 1978-12, 1985-18
A virtually unmodified competition-winning design, the building consists of a brick portion containing service spaces, children's synagogue, meeting hall and rooftop residence; and the synagogue proper, a stone-clad rectangular block. With its long axis pointing south-east, it constitutes one large space with the women's gallery along three sides, its form and lighting offering a suitably devotional atmosphere. The most holy places are accentuated by their handling of material. After housing the Dutch Resistance Museum, the former synagogue is now home to a firm of auctioneers.