Born in Warsaw in 1893, he grew up in Germany, studying with the most renowned architects of his time, joining the then world-famous brick expressionist architect Fritz Höger in Hamburg.
In 1933, Klarwein emigrated to Palestine, where he struggled to make a living for the first couple of years but went on to have a brilliant career.
When the young state of Israel decided to commission a proper parliament building, Klarwein won the design competition by a unanimous vote of the jury.
Incidentally, Klarwein was not only the architect of the Knesset, but also of a landmark red brick building in Berlin that I pass by every day. This is how I first came across his name and started thinking about ways and means to honour his memory.
The idea gained more support than I ever expected and developed more momentum than I could have hoped for. Together with a group of architects, (art) historians and students from both Germany and Israel we are now preparing an exhibition about this man who built churches, train stations and parliaments.
Opening Summer 2025 in Berlin.
Stay tuned.
