Building Israel
Building Israel
How the architecture of Israel showcases its diversity
Buildings tell just as much of a story as street art does. Architecture is one of the first major differences I have noticed between the United States and Israel. In America, architecture plays with depth and often tries to convey a specific emotion or tell a certain story and most buildings look different from each other. I often wonder why the buildings here in Israel, while beautiful, look nearly uniform or seem extremely similar as I walk or drive past. I’ve noticed skyscrapers are more unique and distinct but when it comes to apartment buildings and other offices, they have the same exterior styles. This week, I decided to take a closer look into why this is.
Just as Israel is a melting pot of different cultures, so is its architecture. The skyscrapers of Tel Aviv mirror those in Tokyo or New York1. Outside of these skyscrapers however, there are other buildings that look nearly romantic in style. These are known as Bauhaus-style buildings.
Bauhaus architecture was designed by German-Jewish immigrants that came to Israel during the 1930’s2. The style is defined with clean lines, little embellishment, flat roofs, simple colors, and are made from industrial materials (concrete, glass, steel)3. Even looking from my balcony now, I can spot this style in almost every apartment building I can see! The balconies are staggered or uniform and resemble waves. It all reminds me of Lincoln Logs! As common as it is, Bauhaus is not the only style of architecture you’ll see around Tel Aviv. There is a wide collection of eclectic and brutalist buildings here as well.
Eclectic-style buildings are a mixture of many different elements from other cultures. This style celebrates diversity and is a reflection of the many different cultures in Israel. Just as Bauhaus buildings were created by immigrants in the early/mid-19th century, so were eclectic ones. Eclectic architecture is a fusion of many different cultural styles brought together. When looking around Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa, it is easy to spot the influences made by Islamic, Ottoman, British, and European architectural traditions4. When brought together, beautiful and unique structures decorate the areas they are in. Out of all of the different styles, eclectic buildings are by far my favorite. I love seeing all of the aspects from many different places represented in harmony with one another. I feel that in the United States, I don’t see this as often. In my experience, I don’t see buildings with multiple cultures represented unless the culture is the focus of the establishment. I’ve noticed that in Israel, it’s the norm and it’s a no-brainer to have this.
Similar to Bauhaus architecture, the brutalist style also uses little to no ornaments or embellishments. It also uses primarily industrial materials like concrete, glass, and steel5.
“It’s very clear. You look at the building and you can see how it was composed. It’s about the truth of the matter.” - Hadas Nevo-Goldberst (from the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality’s conservation department)6.
What makes the brutalist-style differ from Bauhaus is the uniformity of the exterior. Bauhaus often uses “symmetrical asymmetry” and plays with depth whereas brutalist-styles look more intimidating and uniform. There is very little depth seen. A great example of a slight exception to this rule is the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. While it has a unique geometric shape, it is still unembellished and plays with sharp edges. This style can commonly be seen with some hotels and office spaces. I remember visiting family in the North of Israel in 2016 (after not seeing most of them since the summer of 2006) and thinking that the apartment buildings my family lived in looked scary. Funnily enough, the building my grandfather used to live in looked completely different. It was an older building and only had two stories. It was in a neighborhood with similar structures but none looked quite the same.
Taking a look around, it’s astonishing to see just how unique the architecture is in Israel. While I focused on the three main influences and took a close look at Tel Aviv, there are many more styles and influences to be seen around Israel. I feel that these different styles bring a physical representation of how much of a melting pot Israel truly is. Before tourists can sit down to an Ethiopian meal near Shuk HaCarmel or indulge in Turkish coffee, the varying styles of apartments, offices, and homes are a testament to how diverse and unique Israel is.
Song of the Week
מה יהיה מחר
Ma yee-hee-yeh muh-char
What will be tomorrow?
I think this song by Peer Tasi is so sweet. The title, Ma Yihiye Mahar, translates to “What Will Happen Tomorrow”. Honestly, this song has been stuck in my head since I first heard it a few days ago.
Slang of the Week
סליחוז מי
Slee-chooz me
I love when languages collide! This is a mix between “slicha” and “excuse me”.
I thank you very much for reading this week’s post. I hope that you’ve enjoyed and that you’ll continue to read them. We would be grateful if you’d share with a friend or family member. It’s a simple message to someone, but it really does have an impact as we grow.
Wishing you a Shabbat shalom and a restful weekend!
Why not add an episode of our podcast to the mix?
“Architecture in Israel”. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/architecture-in-israel/
“Architecture in Tel Aviv”. https://israeliblogger.com/architecture-in-tel-aviv/.
“Bauhaus Architecture Explained”. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bauhaus-architecture-explained
“The Eclectiv Style”. https://private-tours-in-israel.com/the-eclectic-style/
“In Tel Aviv, amazing brutalist architecture hides in plain sight”. https://www.israel21c.org/in-tel-aviv-amazing-brutalist-architecture-hides-in-plain-sight/
“In Tel Aviv, amazing brutalist architecture hides in plain sight”. https://www.israel21c.org/in-tel-aviv-amazing-brutalist-architecture-hides-in-plain-sight/
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