Emanuel Synagogue

The Emanuel Synagogue in Ocean Street, Woollahra, belongs to one of the most progressive religious congregations in Australia.

Established by liberal progressive Jews in the late 1930s as the outbreak of the Second World War was nearing, its history and legacy can be appreciated in the first religious building it built. Designed by architect Samuel Lipson and completed in 1940, this, now heritage listed building, was joined by another sanctuary in the front courtyard designed by architect Aaron Bolot in the 1960’s. By the 21^st-century, the Emanuel community had become the fastest growing religious congregation in the southern hemisphere and a third sanctuary was required.

Ed Lippmann inherited the commission for the third sanctuary after a previous design by another architect proved well beyond the client budget. The new sanctuary needed to accommodate another 800 congregants. Lippmann‘s brief included “weaving” into the site the kindergarten and outdoor play area designed in the 1960s. Lippmann delivered an affordable, buildable rectangular form as a progression or journey through the front forecourt and main sanctuary lobby space. The size of the congregation fluctuates because full attendance only occurs on the three high holidays in the year, so the new sanctuary needed to provide for a variety of sizes as well as flexibility of uses — from traditional Hebrew services to new age gatherings led by acoustic guitarists and singers, lectures, films, functions and concerts. The Australian Chamber Orchestra led by eminent violinist Richard Tognetti perform in the space regularly and require high standards of acoustic performance. The need for flexibility and operability of the space came with high expectations from the congregation.

As with all of Lippmann’s buildings, there’s an honesty in the way materials and structure is conceived and expressed.

The simple steel roof frame on a concrete base is combined with plywood and glass and takes the form of a “diagrid” reflecting Buckminster Fuller‘s mathematical principles and philosophy of lightweight structural efficiency. Although not apparent at first glance, the diagrid structure also makes reference to the Star of David with the detailing of the triangulated timber ceiling further reinforcing the subliminal message.

There’s also a concern for natural ventilation and lighting with high and low level openings inducing natural ventilation. Carefully positioned glazing creates a rich ambient lighting without glare most of the time with indirect led lighting creating another experience at night. Although air conditioning is rarely required, it’s integrated with the perimeter bulkhead that supplies air through quiet, low velocity, circular grilles.

Lippmann‘s approach to the project was embedded in the master plan and the interstitial spaces between buildings, the courtyards and the original sanctuaries which are lightly touched. The bold choice of colour for the beams is a common remark but as Lippmann says “the other buildings on the site were constructed with terracotta coloured bricks, so the colour of the new structure makes reference to them without imitating them too literally”.

Although the material selection is relatively simple and unpretentious, there’s a decorative overlay with quotations from the old Testament stencilled into the plywood walls.

The timber arc/tabernacle and readers desk, also designed by Lippmann, are on wheels allowing the space to be rearranged to suit the service, occasion or event.

Eminent artist Janet Lawrence was commissioned to create an artwork in the old sanctuary lobby entitled “Creation” while Lippmann was invited to extend this with two more glazed artworks in the forecourt and front façade, completed in collaboration with graphic designers Deuce.

Lippmann sums up his experience on the project: “It’s always a pleasure to work with a client who has aspirational values. I felt very close to this community that’s at the forefront of social equality, environmental responsibility and religious, humanistic thinking”.

By Stephen Crafti

Acknowledgements

2020 Commendation for Interior Design
Australian Institute of Architects NSW
2020 Commendation for Heritage
Australian Institute of Architects NSW
2019 Excellence in Engineering
Association of Consulting Structural Engineers
2018 Excellence in Construction for Public Buildings
Master Builders Association of NSW
2018 Interior Design Public Buildings
Sydney Design Awards

Project details

Location
Ocean Street, Woollahra, Sydney
Client
Emanuel Synagogue
Key consultants
TTW, Engineering Partners, PKA Acoustic, Light Practice, Deuce Design
Builder
Belmadar
Photography
Brett Boardman, Willem Rethmeier

The Emanuel Syn­a­gogue in Ocean Street, Wool­lahra, belongs to one of the most pro­gres­sive reli­gious con­gre­ga­tions in Australia.

As with all of Lippmann’s build­ings, there’s an hon­esty in the way mate­ri­als and struc­ture is con­ceived and expressed.

Although the mate­r­i­al selec­tion is rel­a­tive­ly sim­ple and unpre­ten­tious, there’s a dec­o­ra­tive over­lay with quo­ta­tions from the old Tes­ta­ment sten­cilled into the ply­wood walls.

The Emanuel Synagogue in Ocean Street, Woollahra, belongs to one of the most progressive religious congregations in Australia.

As with all of Lippmann’s buildings, there’s an honesty in the way materials and structure is conceived and expressed.

Although the material selection is relatively simple and unpretentious, there’s a decorative overlay with quotations from the old Testament stencilled into the plywood walls.