Frumin House, Parliament building on King George Street, Jerusalem, Israel.
Frumin House is a three-story building at King George Street number 24 in Jerusalem, designed in the International Style with a curved corner and stone bands dividing the floors. The structure combines architectural simplicity with functional spaces that could serve different purposes.
Construction began in 1947 and the building became the temporary home of the Israeli Parliament from 1950 onward, hosting the first through fifth Knesset sessions. This role was crucial to establishing the early government's institutional presence during the nation's formative years.
The ground floor was originally designed as a bank space but was adapted into the main parliamentary assembly hall, shaping how people understood government spaces. This unexpected transformation of a commercial room into the center of political decision-making reflects the improvised nature of the young nation's institutions.
During parliamentary sessions, King George Street was closed to traffic, creating diversions and requiring enhanced security measures. Visitors should expect these changes and plan flexibly when exploring the area around this landmark.
The Frumin family, who manufactured baked goods, initiated construction in 1947 for residential and business purposes before the building unexpectedly became the seat of political power. This shift from a private commercial project to a national symbol shows how quickly Jerusalem's role changed in the newly founded nation.
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