Inbal Jerusalem Magazine - Inbal Hotel Jerusalem

HeritageBy Emanual WrightFrom Eyesoreto Eye-catchingCourtesy of Eyal Ziv ArchitectsBack to the Past. An artist’s impression of the 19th century Jerusalem station reopened as a museum and tourist center.Jerusalem’s 19th century railwaystation is back on tracks it a museum?” “Is it a mall?” “Is it a tourist center?”“I“It’s all this and much, much more,” says AviMordock, the man behind the 2013 Jerusalem RailwayMuseum, Mall and Tourist Center. The engineer andentrepreneur that spearheaded the project, Mordoch isas ‘fired up’ as the steam locomotive that once pliedthe 19th century track from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as hereveals to Inbal Magazinethe nature and scope of theproject. Describing “Theold-new railway station,”with such passion andfamiliar Zionist phraseologythat it resonated to thewriter of Hertzl‘s vision ofAltneuland (The Old NewLand). “This complex isdestined to shift the gravityof the city’s public sociallife in Jerusalem.”For Mordoch, the projectmade perfect sense as theabandoned railway station“had been staring me in theface - quite literally – as itDudi SaadVisionaries. Seen here during construction are JerusalemMayor, Nir Barkat (left) and the project’s prime mover andfinancer Avi MordochSpring-Summe 201318had the thousands of drivers passing it each day, andsaying to themselves – Chaval (Pity).” Well, not one tosay Chaval and not do something about it, Mordochbegan speaking to the municipality back in 2005about his vision and purchasing the land. His conceptencompassed an entire area of residential, commercial,cultural and historical components with the “train stationat the merkaz (center) –the axel in the wheel.”Keen to graphicallyconvey his point, he says,“Open a map of Jerusalemand point your fingerat the center of the city.It will be exactly wherethe station is. It is in thecenter. Think of it, afterthe station closed somethirteen years ago, thecomplex became derelict,covered in graffiti andovergrown with weeds,and vegetation – aneyesore and yet travelfrom the north to the