Hansen House, Cultural center and heritage site in Talbiya, Jerusalem, Israel
Hansen House is a cultural center and heritage site in Talbiya, Jerusalem, originally built to serve medical purposes. The two-story structure with its distinctive bathroom tower now hosts exhibitions, design workshops, and creative studios for contemporary art and media projects.
The building was designed in 1887 by German architect Conrad Schick as a leprosy hospital named Jesu-Hilfe and operated by Jerusalem's Protestant community. It later transitioned from medical care to become an active venue for art, design, and cultural programs.
The name honors Gerhard Hansen, who discovered the bacterium that causes leprosy, connecting the building to a major medical breakthrough. Today the space reflects how architecture once served healing and community care in Jerusalem's diverse neighborhoods.
The site is laid out clearly with separate zones for workshops, studios, and exhibitions that are easy to navigate. Plan to spend at least an hour or two to fully experience the different spaces and activities available.
The house contains specialized spaces including a digital design lab, sound studio, and animation workshop where visitors can see creative work in progress. These facilities demonstrate how a historic building has been adapted to support contemporary artistic practice.
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