Beit Hanassi – The President’s House in Jerusalem
A famous landmark of Jerusalem that is worth exploring is the President’s House or also kown as the Beit Hanassi. It is the presidential palace of Israel’s Head of state and is situated in Talbiya.
According to the Modern Hebrew, the word “beit” holds the meaning as a house and “mishkan” means residence. The term “nasi” also refers to the president and is originated from the Ancient Hebrew word meaning prince. The word “ha’ ” is the definite article in Modern Hebrew.
The builder of the house was Dr. Daniel Avraham Aviad, a Jerusalemite engineer and businessman who was mayor of Jerusalem in 1920-1921 and 1924-1927. He originally planned to build an exclusive villa on land that he owned near the village of Bayit Vegan, but at some point he decided to sell it and use
Prior to the construction of the Beit HaNassi building, President Chaim Weizmann lived in his own residence in Rehovot, which he constructed himself. When Yitzhak Ben-Zvi became President of Israel, he worked from a cabin on Kerem Avraham Street in Rehavia while living in an apartment.
Then in 1963, the President Zalman Shazar was provided with an opportunity of having his future mansion constructed as part of established political structures, but he declined during his administration. However, a plan for the construction of a new presidential house was still approved and construction began on a plot in Talbiya.
Aba Elhanani, an architect, won the prestigious design competition for the mansion in 1964. President Shazar inaugurated this structure, known as Beit HaNassi, in 1971.The design drew scathing criticism from various prominent leaders, and it is today regarded as one of Israel’s most contentious structures.
In October 2017, work on a new, larger gateway to Beit Hanassi was finished, allowing for faster processing of attendees to important events at the compound. This includes the installation of a new security gate and a ramp that will provide wheelchair access and greater convenience for those with disabilities.
