Ezekiel 40 Temple described by the prophet Ezekiel Explanations by Sonia Hidalgo Zurita (English)

Book excerpt: Technical solutions This book is based on the description provided in the 40th Chapter of the Book of Ezekiel, verse by verse, and the design has been further developed to cover all the necessary aspects to provide a faultless operation of the building; planned passageways to connect the buildings and vertical communication including stairways, elevators, terraces and balconies, thus allowing a fluid movement of people and a correct functioning of the Temple. Indeed, the planned building provides a full range of necessary services including toilets, places to rest, places to eat, places of worship for the Kohanim כֹּהֲנִים , areas for other Temple staff and more. As it has been foreseen and planned, the whole building shall encompass an underground level that will provide storage areas for the Temple itself, as well as for other dependencies. Also, considering that this shall be a place where a massive influx of people can be expected, it is also very important to anticipate the need for large parking areas. Personally, I consider that it would be wrong to locate parking space on the underground level, for this Temple shall be a Holy Place and thus it must be fully respected, so the parking areas must be established outside of the complex. Of course, security and safety concerns should also be seriously considered and planned. Therefore, it is my idea to build and adjoining separate building that will provide parking space for visitors; if necessary, this additional building may also be developed on the city outskirts, establishing a public transportation service exclusive for the visitors to the Holy Temple, in order to avoid unnecessary long waits and traffic congestion. To properly achieve the purpose of providing an efficient meeting place, a practical point of encounter to thousands of visitors, the towers which are indeed present at every portal of the Holy Temple shall provide a proper vertical access to the buildings, equipped with stairways and elevators, as well as with many other services. Also, special attention has been put into the height level of the diverse atria. Although a great majority of authors represent them as having a single level, the text clearly mentions the presence of several stairways. Moreover, following inspiration from the buildings constructed by King Solomon ( מֹה 􀋄 שְׁ), in the western part I plan to include two additional buildings that may serve as resting areas for the Levites ( לויים ), that may be on duty at the Temple on any given day.