In 2003, the White City of Tel Aviv was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, by virtue of its very large number of modernist Bauhaus buildings that were constructed in the 1930s and 1940s. Today, half of these—around 2,000 buildings—are protected heritage sites.
Tel Aviv’s White City: where Bauhaus meets Modernism
The architecture of the White City is founded on the tenets of modernism in the first half of the twentieth century. Although the Bauhaus stood squarely within this tradition, it did not “invent” it, nor was it its sole champion.
Noted architects such as Le Corbusier, Erich Mendelsohn, and many others were also modernist architects without being part of the Bauhaus, and their influence is notable in Tel Aviv.
The modernist as well as the Bauhaus architects of the White City were constantly seeking functional solutions for the challenges posed by the local climate, as well as for social questions and mundane requirements.
This gave rise to highly imaginative functional architectural elements: projecting concrete ledges that wrapped around the buildings to shade the windows below; perforated balcony balustrades to aid natural ventilation; and reconfiguration of strip windows to provide a better balance between light and airflow.
Yet, despite its diverse architectural heritage, Tel Aviv’s White City is often referred to as the capital of the Bauhaus style.
Dizengoff Circus: A symbol of Bauhaus in the heart of the city
The city has recently completed the restoration of the Dizengoff Circus, designed in 1934 by architect Genia Averbuch—likely the world’s only “Bauhaus Piazza”—to its original design.
Regarded as the traditional center of the White City, it is striking for its simple design: a round space, surrounded by nearly identical buildings, featuring curvilinear horizontal slit balconies. The simple, elegant architectural language of this circle makes it a paradigm of local modernist architecture.
Tel Aviv’s Bauhaus heritage: around every corner
The direct influence of the Bauhaus on the architecture of what came to be known as the White City of Tel Aviv is evident, for example, in various workers’ housing estates. On Frishman Street, Arieh Sharon designed the residential complex known as Me’onot Ha’ovdim Hod.
After the Nazis took power in 1933, approximately 60,000 Jews left Germany for Mandatory Palestine. Since many, if not most, of these immigrants came from urban backgrounds in Germany, they naturally sought to settle in a city in their new homeland. To accommodate them, thousands of dwellings had to be built in Tel Aviv.
Dozens of architects were involved in this huge enterprise, six of whom were former Bauhaus students: Shlomo Bernstein, Munio Gitai-Weinraub, Shmuel Mestechkin.
Some exemplary modernist buildings include:
Recanati Building (1935): Located at 35 Derekh Begin, designed by Liaskovski & Orenstein.
Braun-Rabinsky House (1932): Situated at 82 Rothschild Boulevard, designed by Josef and Ze'ev Berlin.
Bruno House (1933): Found at 3 Strauss Street, designed by Ze'ev Haller.
Habima Theatre (1935): Designed by Oskar Kaufmann.
Today, Tel Aviv's White City stands as a living testament to the vision and ingenuity of early modernist architects, whose work continues to define the cityscape and inspire design worldwide. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it ensures that the Bauhaus legacy endures for future generations.
Article Written by the Bauhaus Center Tel Aviv
Since 2000, the Bauhaus Center Tel Aviv, located near Dizengoff Circle, has been a hub for exhibitions, guided and self-guided tours, and an art shop celebrating Tel Aviv's White City. Learn more at www.bauhaus-center.com.
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