My main source of inspiration was the short and tragic life story of the Báb.  In my office there is a picture of the gloomy fortress where He was imprisoned in a dark cell, which was not lit by even one candle.  They wanted to put out His spiritual light, but this sun shone on the other side of the world, in a heavenly garden full of light on beautiful Mount Carmel, whose name, “Vineyard of the Lord”, suits it so well.

Another source of inspiration was the Shrine itself, designed by the brilliant architect William Sutherland Maxwell. It is so elegant and special, and combines eastern and western styles in a unique and moving way. That is why we call the Shrine “the Queen of Carmel”. It has become the symbol of Haifa and is very close to the hearts of its citizens.

Also, the Gardens surrounding the Shrine, designed by Shoghi Effendi, have inspired me.  They are simple, elegant and stylish, and they create a spiritual atmosphere. The contrast between the deep green of the cypress trees, the shining green of the grass and the hedge between them – is a perfect representation of green, which was the color of the Báb: He always wore green.  The Gardens bring the fragrances of the citrus and cypress trees of Shiraz, the wonderful geometry of the Gardens of Kashmir, and the beauty of the English Gardens.  When one looks at them, one feels something special, even without knowing their history and their spiritual meaning.

The Gardens are in fact a tribute to the Shrine of the Báb.  Their purpose is to glorify and magnify the Shrine, and to direct one toward it.  The number of terraces is eighteen, like the first followers of the Báb, whom He called the “Letters of the Living”.  In Arabic, as in Hebrew, the word for “life” is hai and the numerical value of its letters is eighteen.  I see in the Gardens a symbol of beauty, wholeness and hope, as the Báb wished for all the earth’s inhabitants.

Light is the central element of the design.  During the hours of the night, the arches of light above and below the Shrine give the feeling of waves of light emanating from it. In daylight, movement is created by sun beams shining through the cypress trees and reflecting off the shining grass.

Water accompanies you all through the Gardens.  It attracts birds, and the harmony of the water and their chirping creates a perfect shield from the noises of the city, allowing one the serenity necessary to detach oneself from the daily routine.  Nonetheless, water conservation was an important factor in the design.  We conducted extensive research to find drought-tolerant plants, and we used the best experts and the most advanced technologies.  Our irrigation system is especially economical, and the water in the fountains is recycled.