History bestowed upon Tel Aviv unique architectural gems, first and foremost, the world’s largest concentration of buildings in the international style. It all started in the mid -1920s, when the cheeky “teenaged” city began to signal that it was already grown up and starting to be a metropolis. What was missing, through city officials, was a unified architectural style – so they decided to build a new quarter using Bauhaus design principles.
The decision did not come out of the blue:
Starting in the early 1930s, Tel Aviv became home to numerous graduates of Europe’s top architectural schools, who drew their inspiration from the Modernist movement in architecture, primly from the Bauhaus school of art and architecture in Berlin.
Characteristics of the international style include asymmetric composition, minimalism and elimination of decorative elements that do not serve a useful purpose. Interior design is simple and functional, flat roofs allow for the gardens and social gathering, and even serve as a place to sleep in the stifling heat of summer nights. More than anything, however, it is the ubiquitous balconies that set Tel Aviv apart from most other cities. These porches symbolize the communal openness and the strong link between the public and the private in the developing society. To put it simply, the balconies are a great place to sit and catch a cool breeze, while enjoying a juicy watermelon and observing the neighbors. The buildings, known as the White City because of the predominance of white and pastel exteriors, are located mostly along Rothschild Boulevard around Dizengoff Circle and on Bialik Street.
In 2003, Tel Aviv was named a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational. Scientific and Cultural organization. This salute by the international body added the White City to the prestigious list of 830 sites throughout the world deemed to be of outstanding value to universal human culture, such as the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids. Welcome to this exclusive club, White City, as the first modern Hebrew-speaking city gets ready to celebrate its 100th birthday.
Boulevard Of Bauhaus Dreams
There is no place like leafy Rothschild, Tel Aviv’s first boulevard, for its number and variety of fascinating buildings. The living architecture museum lining the boulevard and surrounding streets displays architectural gems in the international style, as well as from other periods. Even if we don’t detail all the Bauhaus beauties here, keep in mind what Jorge Amado had to say in his novel Gabriela, clove and Cinnamon: “it is impossible to discover all the magic in just one lifetime – but one must try.”
67 Rothschild Blvd
Samuelson House. Architect: Hain Sokolinsky, 1932.
A three-story residential building that was converted into offices. The building has distinctive cubist characteristics, with its wide balconies facing the boulevards fronting Nahmani Street.
71 Rothschild Blvd
Rieger House. Architect: Zeev Rechter, 1934.
A three-story residential building, featuring clean, restrained lines. The outstanding element is the recessed balconies that create a play of light and shadow between the openings and wall.
82 Rothschild Blvd
Rubinsky-Brown House. Architect: Yosef and Zeev Berlin, 1933.
A residential building whose horizontal lines flow from the vertical stairwell windows to both facades, characterized by its strong pattern of balconies and windows. Its overhanging roof and the use of different plaster finishes emphasize the horizontal lines.
84 Rothschild Blvd
Engel House. Architect: Zeev Rechter, 1933.
A Large residential building that has become one of the symbols of Modernist architecture. The first building in Tel Aviv to be built on pillars (pilotis). Engel House also features a roof garden.
83 Rothschild Blvd
Berlin House. Architect: Yosef Berlin, 1929.
The home of Yosef Berlin and his wife Shoshanna, a sculptor and painter. The house is built of silicates bricks that form a decorative motif of triangular outcroppings and an interesting play of light and shade.
89-91 Rothschild Blvd
Yitzhaki House. Architect: Pinhas Hitt, 1933.
Twin residential buildings that are a mirror image of each other, separated by greenery. The balconies in the front section are angular and shaded, while in the rear section, the porches are curved. The buildings create an unusual unit that stands out from the adjacent structures. Don’t miss the balcony across the street at 96 Rothschild, where a sculpture by Ofra Zimbalista depicts three standing figures – two women and a man; their open mouths make them look as if they were caught mid-sentence, or perhaps mid song.
