The idea of preserving and developing the central axis of the German Colony of the Templars is one of the most significant projects ever undertaken by the Municipality of Haifa. This project is linked to the area of the entrance to the Hanging Gardens of the Shrine of the Bab.
It is interesting to note that Baha’a’llah and the German Templars arrived in Israel at about the same time.
One of the most interesting features of this colony is its red tiled roofs, which were built by the members of the Order of the Templars, who came from the city of Wuttemberg which is in Southern Germany. The founder of the Templars was Christoph Hoffman.
Hoffman arrived in Haifa on October 30th, 1868 with his senior assistant, Georg David Hardegg.
Hardegg remained in Haifa to lead the colony, which later became the largest and most important German Colony in the whole of Israel.
Hardegg planned the development of the main street of the colony, a thirty metre wide avenue planted with trees. It was originally built with only five houses on either side of the street and the architect who supervised this project was called Jacob Schumacher. By 1875 the population of the German Templar Colony number three hundred and eleven inhabitants and held eighty five building, including two flour mills.
During the ensuing years the city of Haifa which surrounded the colony, together with its port area, gradually developed.
Here is part of a direct quote from the association which is carrying out the German Colony project:
“Preservation and development are factors in the development of our project, the main goal of which is to renovate its avenues, houses and gardens in the Templar style, by aspiring to bring the whole area back to life.
We hope that, from the economic point of view, the outcome of this project will be a renewed flourishing and thriving neighbourhood, as well as a tourist focal point, which will act as a magnet, the benefit of which will extend the length and breadth of the colony, from the port of Haifa in the north to the exquisitely beautiful Bahai Gardens. The projected development will embrace the entire German Colony, including a whole wealth of novel and inspiring ideas. These include news buildings planned in the Templar style of the Ottoman period. The avenue will be paved with stone and the facades of its historic houses will be renovated and reconstructed. At the same time, the open view will be preserved in all directions: downwards in the direction of the sea, and upwards in the direction of the Bahai Gardens, located on the Carmel.”
