Haim Dotan

Born in 1954. Architect, urban designer, educator and poet.

Graduated in 1984 from the University of Southern California with Master of Architecture.

Served as senior lecturer from 1998 to 2007 at the School of Architecture in Tel Aviv University.

Won in 2006 Israel’s special award by the Architects Association.

Haim Dotan is an architect by training but accomplished in many fields as well. He has published a poetry anthology, an album of paintings and a photography book. He was once a backpacker and good at jazz dancing. Perhaps owing to a passion for nature, he does not create cloned projects, as he believes in a philosophy against convention. At the recent opening ceremony of Israel week for Expo 2010, he brought his work philosophy and his personality to Shanghai.

Oriental Wisdom in the “Seashell”

Haim Dotan came to China for the first time in 1985; in the 4-month stay, he visited Hong Kong, Guilin, Chongqing, Beijing, Xi’an, Lhasa and Shanghai.

He mentioned that his mother was born in Shanghai; for the reason he had a great affection for China.

Dotan realized his dream of “going back to his mother’s homeland to complete a cycle of life journey” by winning the design bid for the Israel Pavilion of Expo 2010 two years ago.

The construction was inspired by ancient oriental wisdom. The two streamlined buildings hugging each other look like a Tai-chi diagram. The concept behind them was the connection between Jewish and Chinese cultures.

The designer called the pavilion a construction with a story that will reveal intricate facets from all angles. The streamlined building facade echoes with the sound of nature, and sets the tone for the rest of the pavilion. The main building is 24-meter high and looks like two clasped hands or a “seashell” – the reason why the pavilion is called “Seashell”. One side of the “Seashell” is made of authentic stone while the other is made from transparent glass. Inside the building are the “Hall of Innovation” and the “Hall of Light”. “The combination and clash of two totally different materials is just the dialogue and fusion we want to create.” said Haim Dotan.

“Dialogue” Deep Inside

Once on the Yellow Mountain, Dotan found an intrinsic relationship between mountain peaks and pine trees. Later he developed a dialogue based on that relationship and applied the elements to his architectural designs. The Israel Pavilion symbolizes the dialogue between Israel and China. Moreover, the pavilion will hold exhibitions on philosophy, culture and history, creating dialogues between the past and future.

Visitors can have a dialogue with nature in the ”Enlighten Garden”. As the centerpiece of the pavilion, there are many light spheres in the “Hall of Innovation”. Close to these spheres, images of Israelis who talked with visitors in Chinese and Hebrew could be seen, composing a 360-degree multimedia show. Each light sphere represented innovation and technical breakthrough in such fields as agriculture, food, pharmacology, solar/green energy, science, music, literature, high-tech, telecommunication and security.

"Dialogue", "listen", "smile" and "respect"are all factors in Dotan’s blueprint. In Dotan’s opinion, without dialogue in cities, people would be isolated. Dotan anticipates that the buildings for “dialogue” will best touch the inner parts of human being.

 Perfect Collaboration

Working together with Dotan is Prosper Amir. With experience in interior and 3D design, Amir’s job complemented Dotan’s best work.Dotan remembered that their collaboration started from the beginning of the Israel Pavilion.

Soon a beautiful building will stand, showcasing the clash between modern and ancient, the coexistence of divine and worldly, displaying mountains, waters, deserts, beach and sea, etc. As Amir described in Hebrew, the prospects of the pavilion, the harmony between two designers was evident. No doubt, the two have made the Israel Pavilion, their “national project” a perfect example of collaboration. The interior and exterior will work together to tell the story of today’s Israel and to reveal a nation already renowned in many fields but with endless promise.