Zumthor will create a house for mosaic in Jericho

Jericho (West Bank) - Swiss architect Peter Zumthor has been commissioned to rescue an extraordinarily rare mosaic from Hisham's Palace in Palestinian Jericho. It is the most extensive preserved work of its kind, dating back to the 8th century, and Zumthor's task is to protect it from the elements. This was reported by the Palestinian agency Maan.
    Sixty-seven-year-old Zumthor was commissioned by the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Zumthor, who received the prestigious Pritzker Prize in architecture in 2009, has proposed to build a structure dedicated exclusively to the mosaic. This will provide shelter for it while also allowing visitors to view this unique work.
    He describes the project more as an emotional matter than a classic restoration work. "I want to create the original atmosphere of a tranquil city, a shelter, a landmark of Jericho," he said.
    Jericho is the longest continuously inhabited settlement. People have lived there for 10,000 years. Hisham's Palace was built during the Umayyad caliphate. It spanned over 60 hectares of land located west of the Jordan River and 260 meters below sea level. Its remains were discovered in 1873, but the first excavations did not begin until the 1930s, during the British administration of Palestine.
    It is an example of early Islamic architecture. It had several residential floors, a courtyard with columns, a mosque, a fountain, and a steam bath. It was originally thought to have been constructed under the Umayyad caliph and art lover Hisham bin Abd al-Malik, who ruled for 20 years until 743. However, experts now lean towards the opinion that the palace's builder was his successor and nephew, Walid II.
    While Walid II did reside in the palace, even during his lifetime the construction was not completed. In 749, a large part of it was damaged by an earthquake. UNESCO representative in Ramallah, Louise Haxthausen, stated that UNESCO considers the rescue of the mosaic a priority. "Hisham's Palace could be designated as a world cultural heritage site," she said. Among the palace decorations, the mosaic known as the Tree of Life is particularly famous. It depicts a sprawling tree with two grazing deer on one side and a lion attacking a third deer from the opposite side.
    The mosaic, which covers an area of 850 square meters, originally decorated the floor of the bathhouse. It is currently protected from the elements by a layer of sand. According to experts, it is the best-preserved work of its kind in the Middle East and the most renowned worldwide. Zumthor has become famous for his religious buildings. In Jericho, he plans to build a lattice structure made of Lebanese cedar wood that will rest on 16 concrete pillars. The eighteen-meter structure will be covered with white fabric that will allow natural light to filter through and enable ventilation. Above the mosaic, suspended walkways will allow visitors to view the rare floor.