White City (Tel Aviv)

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = White City of Tel Aviv –
the Modern Movement


caption = Rieger House. Architect: Zeev Rechter, 1934.
State Party = ISR
Type = Cultural
Criteria = ii, iv
ID = 1096
Region = Europe and North America
Year = 2003
Session = 27th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1096

The White City (Hebrew: העיר הלבנה, "ha-Ir ha-Levana") refers to a collection of 4,000 Bauhaus or International style buildings built in Tel Aviv from the 1920s by German Jewish architects who immigrated to pre-state Israel after the rise of the Nazis. [The International style is generally regarded as an extension of the Bauhaus style, as continued outside Germany. In many cases, the terms are used interchangeably.] Tel Aviv has the largest number of buildings in this style of any city in the world. In 2003, UNESCO proclaimed Tel Aviv's "White City" a World Cultural Heritage site, as "an outstanding example of new town planning and architecture in the early 20th century." The citation recognized the unique adaptation of modern international architectural trends to the cultural, climatic, and local traditions of the city.

Historical background

Many Jewish architects of the Bauhaus school in Germany, which was closed down in 1933 on the orders of the Nazis, fled to Palestine. A master plan for the new city of Tel Aviv, which grew up on the sand dunes outside of Jaffa in 1909, was drawn up by the British urban planner Patrick Geddes, commissioned by the British Mandatory authorities. The residential and public buildings were designed by these Bauhaus-trained architects, who took advantage of the absence of established architectural conventions to put the Bauhaus principles into practice. The Bauhaus style, with its emphasis on functionality and inexpensive building materials, was perceived as ideal in Tel Aviv.

Adaptation to local climate

However, the architecture had to be adapted to suit the extremes of the Mediterranean and desert climate. White and light colors reflected the heat. Walls were not only for privacy but acted as protection against the sun. 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 the glare. Long narrow balconies, each shaded by the balcony immediately above it, allowed residents to catch the breeze blowing in from the sea in the west. Slanted roofs were replaced with flat ones, providing a common area where residents could cool off in the evenings and socialize. Later, buildings were raised on pillars, which allowed the wind to blow under and cool the apartments, as well as providing a play area for children.The style of architecture and construction methods used in the hundreds of new buildings came to define the character of the modern city. Most of the buildings were of concrete, and in the summer were unbearably hot despite their innovative design features. Tel Aviv’s 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 café society of the city today. The apartment blocks provided a 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 a plot 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.

Preservation plans

Many of the buildings from this period, some architectural classics, have been neglected to the point of ruin, and before legislation was passed, some were demolished. However, some have been refurbished and at least 1,500 more are slated for preservation and restoration.

References

External links

* [http://www.white-city.co.il/english/index.htm Site by Tel Aviv Municipality]
* [http://www.atlas.co.il/hotel.asp?hotel_id=167 Tel Aviv Hotels] - Cinema Hotel Tel Aviv
* [http://www.telaviv4fun.com/bauhaus.html Photo gallery of Bauhaus style houses in Tel Aviv]