Sarona was a tranquil German Templer colony established in 1871. The Templers lived there for about 75 years, till the British gradually deported them following the Nazi rule in Germany. When the British Mandate ended, colony houses became part of an Israeli Defense Forces military compound known as the “Kirya”. Colony houses were turned into offices and together with additional facilities served various military units for about 55 years. At the beginning of the millennium the IDF gradually relocated the offices, and an overwhelming restoration project began. Today Sarona is an “open air commercial center” based on the restored Templer houses. It bares no traces to the long military presence.
This brings a fundamental preservation/restoration issue – how far should restoration go back in time? What periods are regarded relevant for preservation? In Sarona’s case, the long IDF period was significant – additional structures were built, some of them blended quite well with the Templer houses. New courtyards were created. For many Israelis who served in the IDF and spent their time there (doing office work…) it was a significant experience. Or military presence is something that should be erased?
In any case, as abandoned places have their charm, so as the remains of a military unit kitchen, court, the Templer olive press that was incorporated into the camp, and the vast vehicle maintenance unit, seen in this video tour. They were left abandoned and erased from existence, paving the way literally to other uses. When you visit Sarona, watch this clip and try to follow its footsteps…
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