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17 Emil Zola Street (Picture from Gems in Israel)
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| By Ellis Shuman June 6, 2004 |
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The relatively young city of Tel Aviv is often skipped by tourists to the Holy Land, but today the city becomes one of the few in the world to be declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO.
Tel Aviv has the largest collection of buildings built in the International Style, also known as Bauhaus, anywhere in the world. Much of the city's unique architecture, with its white exteriors earning Tel Aviv the nickname of the "White City," has been spruced up on the occasion of the international recognition. Buildings constructed in the 1930s will be lit up with special lighting installations and music, photography and arts events will be staged on colorful Rothschild Boulevard and at other locations.
"In these challenging times, receiving this extraordinary honor from UNESCO not only helps preserve our rich architectural heritage, but also reaffirms Tel Aviv's place on the map as a choice cultural destination," said Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai.
The White City of Tel Aviv includes 4,000 buildings representative of the Modern Movement - a synthesis of architectural styles popular in Europe during the early 20th century, heavily influenced by the Bauhaus School of Art and Design.
These buildings, built between 1931-1956, were designed by immigrant architects trained in Europe who adapted the Modern style to suit Tel Aviv's culture and climate.
According to Gems in Israel, the first building built in this manner in Tel Aviv, was Beit Engel. It was built in 1933, by Zeev Rechter, and is located at 84 Rothschild Boulevard and the corner of Ma'zeh Street (a block away from Israel Insider headquarters). Rothschild Boulevard is an excellent area to see a great variety of Bauhaus buildings.
Characteristics of Bauhaus buildings include flat roofs, columns and "ribbons" of windows running horizontally. Balconies often are curbed and overhung with ledges that provide shade. In an effort to keep interiors cool in humid Tel Aviv, angled skylights and small windows were installed.
Tel Aviv, established in 1909, was chosen to be honored by UNESCO not only because of the buildings themselves but also for the city's original urban design, which was based on an urban plan by Sir Patrick Geddes.
"The new town of Tel Aviv is an outstanding example of new town planning and architecture in the early 20th century, adapted to the requirements of a particular cultural and geographic context," a UNESCO statement said.
UNESCO Deputy Director General Marco Barbosa is scheduled to attend the official ceremony and unveiling of Tel Aviv's World Heritage Site plaque at Tel Aviv City Hall tomorrow. Cultural events will take place during the coming week.
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