Haifa
AA-2026-2E13D3
On the image
These terraced gardens represent a significant investment in both design and ongoing labour, an impressive testament to a vision executed over many years. The geometric patterns, meticulously cultivated from countless small plants, suggest that someone cares very much about order, even ensuring the water is applied with precision via a sprinkler system. Such dedication to maintaining symmetry across vast spaces is admirable, if a little obsessive.
A lone individual is visible ascending the extensive network of stairs on the right, a tiny figure against the backdrop of an enormous, verdant wall of ivy-covered arches. Their journey seems almost inconsequential in the face of such a carefully constructed and maintained landscape, yet their presence also implies the human interaction required to appreciate this grand design.
The entire scene speaks to an enduring human desire to impose structure and beauty onto nature, at a scale that probably seemed like a perfectly rational plan during the initial planning meetings. It's the kind of project where the maintenance staff probably outnumbers the visitors on any given Tuesday.
The historian's note
The image depicts the Baháʼí Terraced Gardens in Haifa, Israel, during the 1970s. These gardens are an integral part of the Baháʼí World Centre, the spiritual and administrative heart of the Baháʼí Faith.
Designed as nineteen terraces descending the slopes of Mount Carmel towards the Mediterranean Sea, the gardens culminate at the Shrine of the Báb, the resting place of the Báb, the Herald of the Baháʼí Faith. The meticulous landscaping, characterised by formal parterres, hedges, and flowerbeds, serves to create an environment of peace and beauty.
The Baháʼí Gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognised for their unique architecture, profound spiritual significance, and role as a pilgrimage destination and focal point for the global Baháʼí community. They remain a significant landmark and a major tourist attraction in Haifa.
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Baháʼí Terraced Gardens, Haifa, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-2E13D3. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/bah-terraced-gardens-haifa-1970s.
@misc{aaAA20262E13D3,
title = {Baháʼí Terraced Gardens, Haifa, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-2E13D3},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/bah-terraced-gardens-haifa-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Baháʼí Terraced Gardens, Haifa, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-2E13D3 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/bah-terraced-gardens-haifa-1970s ER -
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