Tel Aviv is home to almost 3.2 million residents and was recently rated by Lonely Planet as the 3rd "hottest city in 2011." That means that there is something for everyone - from the beach, to cafes, to nightclubs and more.
One of the most unique aspects of Tel Aviv - and from the cultural perspective - is the over 4,000 Bauhaus (meaning: House of Construction) style buildings spread around the city - making it the city with the largest concentration of Bauhaus buildings in the world.As a result, Tel Aviv is also known as "The White City."
The Bauhaus architectural style follows a few ground rules that include: simplicity, clean cuts, white walls and no unnecessary decorations. All the buildings have a smooth and simple look inspired by the idea of functionality.
Interesting to note is how this style was adapted to complement the Israeli environment and climate. As the sun is very strong in Tel Aviv, windows were sometimes replaced with balconies, the sizes of the openings were reduced, though their frequency was not, and often construction was such that it increased the shaded areas without decreasing the circulation of air.
According to the Bauhaus Center in Tel Aviv, "The social-cultural ideology behind the Bauhaus Style fit like a glove to the socialist-Zionist movement and to the striving of this movement to create a new world. White houses, in every sense—form, style, material, functionality, color—grew from the sands without a past, towards a future."
Take an hour or so with your guide to walk around Tel Aviv looking for the different Bauhaus buildings. You will learn about this special style of architecture that was developed by German architects in the 1930's, and resulted in shaping the architectural approach of the city.
