The Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue opens its doors to the sound of music.
By Kim Devore / Staff Writer
W
hen Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue hosts its first major concert this weekend, many will get an up-close look at the city’s newest landmark. The $10 million MJC&S complex is a dramatic architectural addition to the city by the sea-a 15,000 square foot indoor-outdoor facility nestled in the hills above Pacific Coast Highway.
Designed by famed local architects Ed Niles and Mike Barsocchini and situated on five acres, the steel and glass structure is framed by the nature that surrounds it. Although the center has a futuristic, cutting-edge feel, its inspiration goes back thousands of years.
“We were basically going back to how (the Jewish community) originally started,” Barsocchini said, “which was in a tent in the desert. We wanted to go to those historic roots, but do it in a contemporary, Malibu setting.”
The main sanctuary opens up to two glass-covered courtyards and a lush landscaped garden. The building’s frame supports 1,500 feet of glass. The glass roofs allow sunlight to filter through and influence the interior in an ever-changing way. There is an entirely different look at night when illumination gives the center a special glow. Drifting clouds, the shimmer of moonlight or rays of sunshine all become part of the scene.
“Nature is the design principle,” Niles explained.” When you are in the glass sanctuary, you are part of the garden. It creates a chance to get away from the walled world usually associated with a place of worship.”
Bringing the outside in is what sets the sleek, bow-shaped center apart.
“It’s oriented toward nature, the sky and the light and sea breezes – all the things that are Malibu,” Barsocchini explained. “Ed had this idea of a great space that could have shelter and could be opened or closed.”
The project began back in 1995 when the two architects began working with leaders of the Malibu Jewish community center.
“We had a series of breakfast meetings and talked about concept ideas and the project evolved from those meetings,” Barsocchini recalled.
As Niles and Barsocchini began to conceptualize their vision, they did not work from blueprints or look at existing buildings for ideas. “Initially, we used a bunch of pictures of landscapes and images from nature, that’s what we used to communicate where we were going.”
The primary goal was to create something special to the city.
“We wanted a structure that we felt could only be constructed in Malibu. You couldn’t do this in New York or Florida or West Covina. It’s unique to our climate and unique to our environment.”
Next, Barsocchini and Niles turned to computer animation to help with their final design plan. A groundbreaking ceremony took place and, piece-by-piece, the building began to take shape. The 90-foot arches were fashioned from steel pieces measuring 12 inches wide and 20 inches tall. Inside, the seating was set up to be flexible rather than fixed. It can accommodate as few as 20 and as many as 500.
Although it has only been open a few months, the center has already become a huge hit with the local Jewish community.
“It’s amazing,” executive director Pam Katz said. “People just love it. They love the structure and they love beautiful views they get from all angles.”
So when the MJC&S hosts the Shirat Hayam, Song of the Sea concert featuring Cantor Marcelo Gindlin and members of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony on Saturday, it will be a special moment indeed, not only for the Jewish community but for two classmates who started out at the University of Southern California’s School of Architecture as well.
“I’ve done houses,” Barsocchini explained,” but nothing on this scale. I’m very proud of this, and I know Ed is too.”
Shirat Hayam, Song of the Sea performs at 8 p.m. at the MJC&S, 24855 Pacific Coast Highway. More information and tickets can be obtained by calling 310.456.2178.