THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE VISITOR CENTER

The building (known as # 13/168) is a large, multistory home, located at one of the main crossroads of the old city. Three of the city’s markets meet in the building’s square: The outdoor market, Al Tum market, Turkish market. And the two major mosques of Akko: Al Jezzar, El Rami. There are various debates as for the history of the building’s construction history.

Architect Alex Kesten, who conducted an in-depth survey of Crusader sites in old Akko, claimed the building was clearly identifiable as a Crusader one above ground. The stages of development of the current building, began in the late 19th century or early
20th century, at the very end of the Ottoman era. The building was built, in large or completely, during that period.

According to Abdu Matta, born in the old city and one of its known tour guides – local elders reported to him that during the British Mandate period the building was a hotel.

Since 1948, building 13/168 was converted from a hotel into residential apartments on the first floor and into a store on the ground floor.

It was claimed a building for conservation for the following reasons:
1.It is one of the tallest buildings in the area.
2.Next to the northern entrance is the monumental construction of the Sybil of El Rami.
3.The vaults of the ground floor represent one of the examples of monumental Ottoman vaults inside the old city.
4.The first floor has unique windows, having an unusual take on the idea of the circular windows of Akko. They are intentionally constructed, as the top half is a half circle and the bottom half is half of a rectangle.

The recommendations for conservation were as following:
To conserve and preserve the building without significant alterations.
1.To remove any cement or concrete placed before on the stones for modern alterations.
2.To replace and remake the original doorways and windows of the ground floor.
3.To preserve the giant vaults of the ground floor.
PURCHASING THE BUILDING

The building, bought in 2014, was a furniture carpentry owned by a the Chachanovsky family from Akko. The renovation of the building was done with strict conservation, including a thorough historical research of the building and its surroundings and locating an architect who knows the city and its buildings thoroughly. Chosen for the architectural planning and reservation – was Ela Yungman, an architect and ancient craft specialist.