Introduction

Hidden in Plain Sight: Forgotten Jewish Architects and their Famous Creations

This exhibition is being made possible by the generous support of The Cahnman Foundation

From the first grand, modern market in the heart of Cairo to a majestic and storied hotel in Isfahan, Jewish architects have made landmark contributions to public spaces across the Middle East and North Africa. While their buildings are well-known, the architects have been forgotten and in some cases even erased from historical memory. This exhibit intends to put these people and their structures “on the map” by constructing an exhibit featuring historical summaries, archival and contemporary photographs, video-tours, as well as panoramas, and 3D models (wherever practicable). The exhibit’s centerpiece is the Shah Abbass Hotel (now known as the Abbasi Hotel) in Isfahan, Iran. We worked with Yassi (Elias) Gabbay, the hotel’s award-winning architect, to secure rare photographs and blueprints, as well as develop a 3D model. The hotel has been named one of the most beautiful in the Middle East, yet Gabbay’s role in creating it has been concealed since the Iranian Revolution, when he had to flee Iran.

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Hidden in Plain Sight: Forgotten Jewish Architects and their Famous Creations

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