Tel Aviv walks #8 – The Heart of Tel Aviv

Today’s Tel Aviv walk will be inside quarter number 5. Tel Aviv is divided into 9 quarters and each quarter consists of several neighborhoods. The Heart of Tel Aviv neighborhood also known as The Heart of the City is part of quarter number 5 and in this walk will be visiting it.

Map of the area:

The Heart of Tel Aviv is at the historical center of the city (it was the center for the first 50 years of Tel Aviv). This neighborhood is characterized by homes built in the International and Eclectic styles. Most of these houses were built in the 1930s and the 1940s, though some were built earlier.

The Heart of Tel Aviv

Rothschild Blvd

We started from Rothschild Blvd and continued west. This is one of the houses on Rothschild Blvd:

Old balconies:

Some houses have been destroyed over the years, others changed their purpose, and many have deteriorated and neglected. In recent years the trend of conservation, renovation, and remodeling old houses is on the rise.

New skyscraper on Rothschild Blvd:

Modern balcony:

Most houses started as three floors one, but over the years roof floor was added to most of them.

There are also several boutique hotels in this area. This is Hotel Montefiore:

The Pagoda House

Pagoda House is an Eclectic Style building in central Tel Aviv built in 1924. It was the first private residence in Tel-Aviv to have an elevator, installed to accommodate the Polish ambassador who resided on the third floor.
The building, located at King Albert Square on the corner of Nahmani and Montefiore streets, was designed by the architect Alexander Levy. Over the years, the building fell into disrepair. In the 1990s, it was purchased by Swedish businessman Robert Weil, who restored it. The Pagoda House was built during the architectural boom of the 1920s. It was inspired by a cafe in the United States, combining Oriental and Western style elements.

Source: Wikipedia

Looking up:

Many streets look like in Europe, meaning the front of the house is next to the sidewalk. There is no garden with a fence in front of the house (like in Israeli style).

Entrance with columns:

Restored house:

Modern buildings:

In the following picture, you see a new modern house with metal and wood. But it’s not stand alone. Actually, the yellowish house to the right is the original one. And the modern house was built as an extension (probably on the top of a garden):

Chelouche Gallery for Contemporary Art

Since it’s opening Chelouche Gallery has positioned itself as one of the most prominent and leading galleries in Israel. Keeping its primacy in the various fields of art, the gallery displays works in new media, video art, sculpture, painting, installation and photography.

Chelouche Gallery was established by Nira Itzhaki and located in Tel Aviv. In 2010 Chelouche Gallery launched its new venue in one of the most beautiful buildings in the heart of Tel-Aviv, the historic “Twin Houses” at 7 Mazeh Street. The new art & cultural complex, located in a historic building, draws its inspiration from similar compounds the world over.

Since its inception, the Gallery has set out to promote an international and local exhibition schedule in collaboration with curators and artists from around the world, endeavors that have placed it at the vanguard as a leader in the various fields of contemporary art in Israel. Chelouche Gallery is the home for both young and established Israeli artists alongside international artists such as Peter Greenaway, Carmela Garcia, Melanie Manchot and William Kentridge.

The “Twin House,” one of the most spectacular historical buildings in central Tel Aviv, on the corner of Mazeh and Yavneh streets, was designed and built in the 1920s by architect Joseph Berlin. Originally planned as residence for the two Berlin brothers, the desire to erect two identical wings gave rise to the first twin house in Tel Aviv. In addition to its residential function, the building also served as home to the Association of Engineers and Architects, as well as a school of architecture. It is an outstanding, unique example of neo-classical architecture in 1920s Tel Aviv; a specimen of a period residential building adapted to local needs and built with state-of-the-art techniques brought to the country by Berlin.

Source: Official site

I loved the architecture in the Heart of Tel Aviv neighborhood. And I will definitely come back to shoot more. What about you? What type of architecture do you love? Write us in the comments below. And I will see you in future travels.

Stay Tuned!

For additional points of interest nearby see Tel Aviv-Yafo page.

Additional Resources

Here are several resources that I created to help travelers:

• Trip Planner with Attractions and Itineraries is the page that will help you create your perfect travel route.
• What is the Best Time to visit Israel? To answer this question, we will consider the weather, prices, holidays, festivals, and more.
• Information and Tips for Tourists to Israel will answer the most common questions tourists have about Israel (including safety, passports, weather, currency, tipping, electricity, and much more).
• Israel National Parks and Nature Reserves include a complete list, top ten, map, tickets (Israel Pass, Matmon, combo), and campsites.
• If you are looking for things to do, here are the pages for Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Sea Of Galilee, Akko (Acre), Eilat, Nazareth, Safed (Tzfat), and Makhtesh Ramon.