Inspired by the Unusual
Synagogue: Kol Yaakov
Location: Edgware, UK
Challenge: Designing something impressive within a very limited space even more limited by the request of having the rabbinical seats included within the given space.
View of the engraved Luchot hanging before the parochet
An interview with British Aron Kodesh designer and producer, Mr. David Wajsman:
Chana: Hi, please tell me- why did the Kol Yaakov turn to you specifically for this interesting project?
David: Probably because I am local, I live in Edgware and am well known within the local community for my unusual profession.
Kol Yaakov built a very simple Shul and left the Aron space to be the only area to transform the somewhat simple room into a synagogical setting.
Chana: How did you overcome the challenge and produce a beautiful Roman-inspired Aron Kodesh?
David: As always I tend to take inspiration from unusual sources and like to veer away from the traditional synagogue design that most communities have become so familiar with. As per your question some of the inspiration has come from Roman baroque backgrounds while the column capitals are Greek style, the addition of the canopy coming out into the shul allowed for the small allocated wall space to have a larger presence. The overall design would probably be classed as Neo-Classic with a mixture of flavours from the styles mentioned.
Chana: Please tell me more about the columns.
David: Unlike the standard Amudim, which are mostly based on a miniature of the main design. I have taken the initiative to design the Amudim separately keeping within the same style and attached at the front of the Vulcanic Brazilian granite to complete this semi-circle section as whole design within a synagogue.
