The Workers’ Council Complex

Located on the corner of Herzl Street and Krinitsi this four-story building was designed to house the Histadrut Workers’ Council of Ramat Gan and Givatayim. The dedication of the building was held on April 30, 1957, on the eve of Labor Day celebrations. The Council building was designed by Leitersdorf – Belzitzman firm, entrusted with many projects for the Histadrut throughout the 1950s country-wide.

As a public building of the General Histadrut, the building is historical evidence of the strength of the Histadrut and its important role in building the country. As with other organizational public buildings, this building is an anchor for the extensive activity of the Histadrut in the social life of the working class in Ramat Gan. In addition to being a public and administrative structure, the building also housed a concert hall and served as a cultural hub for gatherings, assemblies and political conferences.

Address: Herzl St 13, Ramat Gan, Israel
Constructed: 1957
Renewed: 2018
Documented: 2013
Client: Ramat Gan Municipality, Africa Israel Investments Ltd.
Photographer: Mimar Naor
Construcor: Ilan Ben David Engineers Ltd.
Contractor: Avner Gilad Preservation and Reconstruction of Buildings

ההסתדרות הכללית של העובדים בארץ ישראל מועצת פועלי רמת גן — 1966

Workers' Council of Ramat Gan and Givatayim

The Workers’ Council building is a distinct example of a public building of the period with architectural design elements and details. The asymmetrical façade is a textbook example of applied characteristic of the International Style.
The structure is punctuated by a monumental spiral staircase embedded in a curved enclosure on the rear façade. An additional trapezoidal wing stood to the rear of the building, originally erected to house a concert hall.

The corner location of the building allows the alignment of the entrance plaza with the sites varied elevations at the intersection of the streets and offers an architectural gesture to the building’s urban environment. The northeast facade, facing Herzl St. defines the length of the street and directs the main facade.

The building exhibits three types of shading elements: a partition of vertical frames which separate the office balconies from the east facade, a screen made of round precast concrete units that shade the office rooms facing north and south as well as a perforated brick layout.

מועצת פועלי רמת גן וגבעתיים — Test caption

The conservation work

Renovation work comprised of concrete repair, plaster work and detail restoration and reconstruction. The Preservation of original facades as well as internal public space while bringing the building up to standard was the main focus of the conservation work. Detailed attention was paid to bringing the main spiral staircase up to code and allowing it to continue to stand as a focal point of the structure. Restoration of singular decorative plaster work on the facades reminiscent of a tigers’ stripes.
Extensive landscape work was carried out including vegetation typical of the period as well as consideration for accessibility and connectivity within its urban surroundings.

The conservation work Columned Ground Floor Vertical Enclosure

Columned Ground Floor

The building is characterized by its public use and the ease of movement circulation it provides. A partial columned ground floor allows passage from the northeastern façade to the rear and is situated off of the plaza on the street corner.

Vertical Enclosure

The asymmetrical façade characteristic of the International style is punctuated by a monumental spiral staircase embedded in a curved glass enclosure. This rounded vertical extension highlights the façade that is seen from Krinitsi Street.

The Workers’ Council Complex

Before

During

The conservation work

Columned Ground Floor

Vertical Enclosure

After