richard meier's rothschild tower adds to tel aviv's bauhaus heritage

in tel aviv, US firm richard meier & partners has completed the new ‘rothschild tower’ — its first international residential high-rise and its first project in israel. the 154 meter-tall building (505 feet) features a distinctive double layer façade comprised of clear glass with a white louver screen, a treatment designed to convey a sense of lightness and transparency. at the top of the structure, an expansive ‘urban window’ frames western views of the mediterranean sea from the penthouse terraces.

the projects is located at the heart of tel aviv’s white city, a UNESCO world heritage site
image © roland halbe (also main image)

located at the heart of tel aviv’s white city, a UNESCO world heritage site, the tower is surrounded by around 4,000 bauhaus-style  buildings designed by german jewish architects who began immigrating to israel before the second world war. in fact, tel aviv contains the world’s largest concentration of such structures — primarily dating from 1931 to 1956 — and also hosts subsequent designs that were built in tribute to the style. ‘the great thing about the site is that it’s related to the whole city; it’s related to all of the wonderful buildings of the 1930s and to the historic buildings of rothschild boulevard,’ says richard meier.

the building features a distinctive double layer façade comprised of clear glass
image © roland halbe

based on the principles of walter gropius’ famed german art school, the building appears as an elegant and refined residential tower that sits lightly on a retail base. ‘the design is inspired by bauhaus principles that were based on functionality and a certain sparseness or economy of means using modern mass produced materials, and in this case a repetitive planning module,’ explain the architects. the tower’s lightness and transparency not only reduces its scale and mass, but also intends to express the city’s optimism, openness, and energy.

conceived as a veil, the building’s louver screen protects the delicate clear glass skin
image © roland halbe

conceived as a veil, the building’s louver screen not only protects the delicate clear glass skin, but also encloses the tower’s open air porches. ‘the tower is deliberately lifted above the street on graceful piloti, with an undulating glass wall in deference to the importance of this important intersection of rothschild and allenby,’ says reynolds logan, design partner-in-charge. however, the ground level remains open to the surrounding streets and neighborhood. ‘the transparency and lofty openness of the ground floor lobby, garden, and retail spaces contribute to a vibrant streetscape,’ continues logan.

the lobby remains open to the surrounding streets and neighborhood
image © roland halbe

‘richard has been a wonderful partner to work with on multiple projects,’ adds nicolas berggruen, developer and president of berggruen holdings, the development firm behind the project. ‘in terms of concept and design, he embodies optimistic modernism. this white building in the white city is a great symbol for tel aviv, and the tower is a significant architectural contribution to the heart of the city, one of the world’s most vibrant cities. it was a true privilege to work with him.’

an expansive ‘urban window’ frames views of the mediterranean sea from the penthouse terraces
image © roland halbe

‘the design of the buildings in the white city made a deep impression on me when I visited israel many years ago, so to work in this context has been an aspiration of mine for a long time,’ explains richard meier. ‘it is my hope that inviting the timeless quality of this city’s light and views into an open layout for the residences, a design we haven’t seen much here, will bring together the existing elements with a fresh perspective.’

the project is based on the principles of the bauhaus, walter gropius’ famed german art school
image © roland halbe

‘our current interests are part of a continuing development,’ continues richard meier, whose firm is currently working on new towers in new york, taichung, and mexico city. ‘I hope that with this design we have brought together form, space and light in a building that looks to the future but is aware of its past and embodies values of permanence and continuity. I think with this building in particular we have been able to explore the play of light with materials and facade louvers in a way that is part of this continuous investigation.’

see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here.

the tower seeks to express tel aviv’s optimism, openness, and energy
image © roland halbe

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project info:

program: apartments, retail spaces, and various amenities including a pool, spa, wine cellar and lounges
floors: 42 floors above ground
number of units: 147 apartments
ground footprint: 2,470 sqm / 26,586 sqf
net floor area (typical floor): 750 sqm / 8,072 sqf
height of building: 154 meters (505 feet)

design principals: richard meier, FAIA, FRIBA, reynolds logan, FAIA
project architects: thibaut degryse, ananth r. sampathkumar
collaborators: gil even-tsur, john jourden
owners: berggruen residential ltd
associate architects: BLK architects and town planners

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