White City (Tel Aviv, Israel)

White City(Tel Aviv, Israel)Priyanshu Mani11110043

Tel AvivTel Aviv was founded in 1909 and developed as a metropolitan city under the British Mandate in Palestine. The White City was constructed from the early 1930s until the 1950s, based on the urban plan by Sir Patrick Geddes, reflecting modern organic planning principles.

The White City (Ha-Ir HaLevana) refers to a collection of over 4,000 buildings built in a unique form of the Bauhaus or International Style in Tel Aviv from the 1930s by German Jewish architects who immigrated to the British Mandate of Palestine after the rise of the Nazis.

Dwelling on the DunesThe exhibition was originally held at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art in 2004 and then traveled to Canada, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany. Established in 2000, The Bauhaus Center in Tel Aviv is an organization dedicated to the ongoing documentation of the architectural heritage.Contextual AdaptationThe architecture had to suit the extremes of the Mediterranean and desert climate. White and light colors reflected the heat. Walls not only provided privacy but protected against the sun.

FeaturesThe cubic and rounded forms and strong horizontal emphasis combine to create the play of light and shadow that has become a trademark of Tel Aviv architecture. The shapes of the buildings are enhanced by the blazing sun on the smooth white plaster. The White City is a representative sample of purist architecture free of superfluous ornament.

Large areas of glass that let in the light, a key element of the Bauhaus style in Europe, were replaced with small recessed windows that limited the heat and glare. Long narrow balconies, each shaded by the balcony above it, allowed residents to catch the breeze blowing in from the sea to the west.

Buildings were raised on pillars (pilotis), the first being the 1933 Engel House designed by Zeev Rechter.These allow the wind to blow under and cool the apartments, as well as providing a play area for children.

In 1935, at the office building Beit Hadar, steel frame structure was introduced, a technique which facilitates opening the first floor for such purposes.

Most of the buildings were of concrete (reinforced concrete was often applied from 1912 on) and in the summer were unbearably hot despite their innovative design features. Tel Avivs residents took to the streets in the evenings, frequenting the numerous small parks between the buildings and the growing number of coffee shops, where they could enjoy the evening air. This tradition continues in the caf society, and nightlife of the city today.

The apartment blocks had variety of services such as childcare, postal services, store, and laundry within the buildings themselves. Additionally, having a connection to the land was viewed as extremely important, so residents were encouraged to grow their own vegetables on an allotment of land set aside next to or behind the building. This created a sense of community for the residents, who were in the main, displaced people from differing cultures and origins.

Dizengoff SquareThe square, built in 1934, was part of the original urban plan by Sir Patrick Geddes, and was designed by architect Genia Averbuch. A roundabout was fashioned around the square, at its center a garden with a fountain and shady seating areas. For decades the square was a popular location and one of the landmarks of Tel Aviv's historic "White City."

RedesignIn 1978, however, the current split-level configuration was introduced, duringShlomo Lahat's tenure as mayor, with Dizengoff traffic flowing beneath it. The pedestrian area is elevated, connected by ramps to the adjacent sidewalks and to the pedestrian areas of Ben Ami and Zamenhoff streets, while traffic uses the lower level.

Fredric R. Mann Auditorium, No. 10 DizengoffOpened in 1957 the Manns 2,760-seat hall has hosted the likes of Leonard Bernstein, the London Symphony etc. The building is expected to reopen in the spring following a NIS 140 million ($36.5 million) renovation.

Dizengoff Center, No. 50 DizengoffThis mammoth shopping mall Israels first, when it opened in 1983 straddles Dizengoff Street with two towers connected by skywalks and underground passages, and topped with a residential skyscraper and an office building.

The Bauhaus Center, No. 99 DizengoffBauhaus Center gives tours of the historic International style-Bauhaus architecture of Tel Aviv, distinguished for its white facades and rounded, minimalist structure.

Dizengoff Square and the Agam Fire & Water FountainIn 1986, the original fountain was replaced with the Fire & Water Fountain by renowned Israeli optical artist Yaacov Agam. Water spurts from the rings and a flame rises from the peak, accompanied by music at the top of every hour.

Short:Story, No. 173 DizengoffThe merchandise in this trendy shop changes entirely every three months (hence its clever name). Short:Story launches one brand at a time.

Kelim Shloovim, No. 229 DizengoffThis unique-in-Israel gift shop is a joint venture among several non-profit organizations that create employment opportunities for people with emotional, physical and intellectual special needs. The store is staffed by people being trained for retail employment opportunities, and the items are crafted by clients as well.

A cuppa whateverCoffee shops and cafes, pubs and bars abound on Dizengoff Street. One very popular tapas bar/coffee shop for the 25- to 35-year-old set is Dizzy Frishdon at No. 121 (the name is an amalgam of the street names Dizengoff, Frishman and Gordon.Thank you