The new academic library being built at the Kinneret College already attracts attention due to its distinctive design. In an article published in a leading architecture magazine, architect Gabi Swhartz explained the ideas behind the planning:
"Landscape was a key concept in the project. We looked for ways to integrate the beauty of the Lake of Galilee into the building, and concluded that what we needed to create was an environment – a place which uses its surroundings, brings them inside and allows them to pass through.
We tried to create a dynamic space serving a rich variety of situations – from individual study in deep concentration, through group sessions in seminar rooms or in front of the computer, to informal, relaxed discussions. We tried to arrange the different situations so that they enhance each other and combine to create the student experience. Our basic decision was to plan a ground floor with a panoramic, unobstructed view of the magnificent lake scenery… this is the best setting for intensive study.
We believe that the library will create an attractive, enriching academic-social environment within the campus, and will contribute considerably to the research and training of students and teachers alike."
The library project is funded jointly by the Sklare Family Foundation, the Council for Higher Education and Rashi, which also manages the construction.
