The completion of the renovation and preservation of the Weizmann House, and the beginning of its operation as part of the Institute's visitor center, were recently noted at a modest evening held in collaboration between the Institute and the Council for the Preservation of Sites
The completion of the renovation and preservation of the Weizmann House, and the beginning of its operation as part of the Institute's visitor center, were recently noted at a modest study evening held in collaboration between the Institute and the Council for the Preservation of Sites. Among the lecturers in the evening were the architect who planned the preservation and supervised it, Hillel Shoken, who spoke about his personal relationship with the designer of the house, the architect Erich Mendelsohn; and the director of Ganzach Weizman, Merav Segal, who described the complex relationship between Mendelssohn and Weizman. Weizmann, it turns out, almost gave up Mendelssohn's services. Mendelsohn explained that it is impossible to get a maximum house for a minimum price. Which one was right?
The relationship between architect and client is somewhat similar to the relationship between spouses. The construction of the private house requires attention to intimate details, an understanding of customs and lifestyle. Where is the center of family and social activity at home - in the kitchen or in the living room? What is the way to use the bathrooms? And of course, the question of the questions: What is the financial situation of the client? The architect meets quite a test of satisfying most of the client's needs, when usually the client does not have enough money to realize his dreams. This state of affairs creates quite a bit of tension between the architect and the client, and in the case that the "client" is a couple, even between the couple themselves.
The relationship between Dr. Haim Weizman and the architect who built his house - Erich Mendelson, was particularly complex and dynamic. Weizman, then living in England, asked Mendelson to design the house in Rehovot, after hearing that he was going to design the house of the well-known publisher Zalman Shoken. And so, in 1934, Weizmann wrote Mendelssohn a letter, thanking him for agreeing to design his house in Rehovot. It was agreed between them that the start of construction would be on April 1935, 20,000. After the principle agreement, Weitzman asked for the thing they don't like to talk about: an estimate of the cost of building the house. Mendelssohn made a rough estimate: XNUMX pounds sterling. A huge amount.
Weizmann was amazed. He thought of a sum of only £12,000. For a year there was a dialogue between the two, most of it in writing. Weizmann tried to lower the cost, and Mendelssohn tried to meet the demand with certain limitations. In checking with the contractor Hankin (who was "one of the most responsible in Palestine", according to Mendelson), it became clear that he demanded much more than what Mendelson estimated. Mendelsohn explained to Weitzman that usually the architects are too optimistic and think that the construction cost will be lower than the final price, adding that if it weren't for that, many of the planned buildings would not have been built at all. Weizmann was concerned about the high cost.
Mendelsohn wrote that he knows the problem, since it is easier to build when the financing comes from other people's money than from your own pocket. He launched a series of arguments in order to convince Weizman to build his house according to the original plan: "The beauty of the building is in its plan, its suitability to the environment, to the climate and to your personal and official needs. The proportions of the building are perfect and independent of the interior luxury equipment. You asked for a house with representative rural character, which means giving up the material glamor of an urban palace. The changes I made will allow you a home that is compatible with the personality and standard of living of both of you. Your relationship with Israel requires you to build through organized Hebrew work (which is more expensive). Your position requires you to put up an open and attractive house for all strata of the country. I can provide you with the best plan and the most reliable supervision, but you cannot expect a maximum house at a minimum price.
As your architect, I am willing to offer a new plan at no additional charge, but as a friend whose appreciation of you will never change, I advise you to use the existing plan.
And if you so decide, the construction will begin on the first of July 1935, the skeleton will be finished on the 15th of November and the house will be finished on the first of July 1936. The internal arrangements will last three months. The entrance to the house will be on the first of October 1936."
Mendelssohn's arguments were of no avail. Weizmann stood by his refusal not to build the house according to Mendelssohn's plan. The price was not agreed upon. He wrote: "Even if I could afford to spend so much money, I wouldn't do it for moral reasons. This is not allowed in Palestine. I want a decent house but not a luxurious building." In a sharp letter to Mendelssohn, Weizmann expressed his disappointment and informed him of his decision. He claimed that since the dimensions of the house were reduced from 1,028 square meters to 796 square meters, there is no justification for the demand for an amount of 18,000 pounds, to which must be added the expenses of the furniture, the garden and unexpected expenses. At the same time as he separated from Mendelssohn, Weizmann sought further advice. The expert he chose was none other than the director of "Soll Bona" in those days, David HaCohen. Weizmann asked him to estimate the cost of construction according to the plans and technical specifications prepared by Mendelsohn. The priest was charged in the amount of 16,000 pounds.
It is worth putting some order in the sums: Weizmann limited the cost of building the house to 12,000 pounds sterling, after a long negotiation, he agreed to compromise on 14,500. Mendelssohn's first estimate was 20,000, and after pressure he managed to lower it to -18,000. David HaCohen estimated: 16,000.
But Mendelssohn did not give up and insisted on carrying out the project. He wrote to Weizman and asked not to decide on the matter until after Weizman had read his reasons. To save on expenses, he suggested changing the roller blinds from iron to wood, lining the main rooms with marble ("Palestinian stone"), and for the rest of the rooms to be content with terrazzo. He suggested holding a new tender for the contractor and doing everything possible to build the house as planned. He even repeated the offer to make an alternative plan for a smaller house at no extra charge. But Weizmann, in his own right, decided not to build the planned house. In a letter to one of his friends, Weizmann wrote that Mendelsohn had disappointed him and Vera badly, and had wasted almost a year of their time. "He may be a brilliant architect, but a very difficult person." The bargaining between the two lasted about a year. Then, at the end of August 1935, a telegram from Weizmann arrived to Mendelssohn with one word: "Good luck". What happened between July and August? How did Weizmann relent and approve the Mendelssohn plan? We'll probably never know.
The two clashed not only over the cost of construction. Mendelssohn demanded a 10 percent fee for his work as was customary in England. But Weitzman learned that in Israel the payment is only 6 percent. However, from here on, Weizman transferred all the handling of the financial side of the house to Mr. Landsberg (who was a friend of Weizman, one of the founders of "Rasco" and Kfar Shmarihu, and who served as his assistant in financial matters during the construction of the house), thereby taking the trouble off himself.
In July 1936 another letter arrived for Weizman from Mendelson: "The house has been plastered and looks exceptional. I checked the cabinets in the workshop, they are first class, a real European achievement. All the rooms are full of light although the bright floor is still missing. Epstein (the gardener) works in full swing, the earthworks and terraces are well adapted to the terrain. The garage building is ready for entry." In a footnote, Mendelssohn mentioned the additional payment due to him.
In January 1937, the Weizmann couple entered their residence with good fortune. About a year later, Weizman complained about a list of defects in the house: "Every time it rains, the stairwell is flooded, my room is also flooded, the curtains and the carpet are damaged. When there is a strong wind, it blows the ashes from the fireplace and the whole library is filled with soot... It is the architect's job to make sure that the client is satisfied without any delay."
Despite Weizmann's great anger towards Mendelssohn, he wrote to Zalman Shoken in the 40s, after hearing that Mendelssohn was about to leave the country, and asked him to do everything in his power to intervene and make sure that Mendelssohn stays in Israel and gets a position in Jerusalem, in order to guarantee his services for building the country. There is, please, the personal concern for Mendelssohn and the concern for the aesthetic appearance of the entire country.
And here is the last figure, which determines: after all the trade-selling, the final cost of building the house was 14,831 pounds, and two hundred and fifty-five pennies. In other words, the actual price of the house was very close to Weizman's "last offer". Another proof - if we needed it - of the skill and negotiating talent of the country's first president, its founder and president
