One of the reasons why Tel Aviv is such an interesting city and why I wanted to visit Tel Aviv again is the incredible Bauhaus architecture.

If like me, you like this architecture style you will surely enjoy Tel Aviv where you can find some impressive buildings all over the city – there are over 4.000 modernist structures in Tel Aviv!

I put together this small guide to Tel Aviv modernism with all the information you might need – a bit of the background of Bauhaus in Tel Aviv, where to find the best examples of this style and finally, more pictures to show you that modernism in Tel Aviv is really special.

Read on and plan your own architecture trip to Tel Aviv soon!

What are modernism and Bauhaus?

Modernism is the architecture style that focuses on modern technologies from a century ago: glass, steel or concrete. It became popular at the very beginning of the 20th century but its real peak happened between World War 1 and World War 2.

Buildings in this style are usually sleek and elegant, often with undulant shapes and very simple structures. The design focused on the functionality of the building, not fancy details.

The style was popular all over the world but you can find the best examples of modernist architecture in Kaunas (Lithuania), Gdynia (Poland), New York City (the US), Paris (France), Germany and Brasil.

One of the modernist movements was Bauhaus – the style created in the art school in German cities Dessau and Weimar. It focused even more on the functionality, also the emotional one. The buildings in this style are meant to serve people, help them develop and grow.

In Tel Aviv, the majority of the modernist buildings were created in the Bauhaus style, to develop the city good to live in, that people will enjoy.

History of modernism in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv was established in 1909, on the dunes outside of the old harbor town Jaffa. The idea behind the foundation of Tel Aviv was to create the modern garden city that will be a pleasant place to live in.

The famous urban planner from Scotland, Patrick Geddes, was invited to design the plan for the city. He presented his idea in 1929 but he didn’t specify the style he wants the city to be built in.

At that time many Jewish architects from the Bauhaus school in Germany and from other Central and Eastern European countries arrived in the British Mandate of Palestine, escaping the rising antisemite moods in Nazi Germany and beyond. They were all well educated and accomplished, creating in the spirit of the best principles of the Bauhaus style.

The emigration architects together with the local one designed the buildings for the new city, focusing on the functionality and affordable materials.

Today we can admire over 4.000 Bauhaus buildings in Tel Aviv – the biggest density of modernist architecture in the world! There is no better place than Tel Aviv to enjoy and admire the masterpieces of the interwar architecture.

Tel Aviv “White City” on UNESCO World Heritage List

The collection of modernist buildings in Tel Aviv is often called “the White City”. In 2003 UNESCO recognized the great importance and value of this architecture style in Tel Aviv and included “the White City” on UNESCO World Heritage List as “an outstanding example of new town planning and architecture in the early 20th century.”

This award will definitely help to protect the amazing architecture Tel Aviv is known for! Now, when you go around, checking the Bauhaus architecture in Tel Aviv, you might find info boards next to some of the buildings, with the details of the place.

Where to find the most beautiful Bauhaus buildings in Tel Aviv

The moment I realized Tel Aviv is really packed with Bauhaus architecture I was over the moon, almost giggling with the excitement. These were not random modernist houses here and there – they were all over the city, whole streets were lined with some amazing buildings in the modernist style.

But instead of running around frantically, trying to find some of the most beautiful and valuable buildings, I did some research and now I’m happy to share with you the most beautiful Bauhaus buildings in Tel Aviv.

Three main areas where to find Bauhaus architecture in Tel Aviv are around Bialik Square, Dizengoff Square, and Rothschild Boulevard and surely you will find some amazing buildings there. But that’s not all!

Here are some of the addresses you might want to check

• 3 Strauss Street
• 28 Levontin Street
• 65 Shenkin Street
• 82 Rothschild Boulevard
• 61 Rothschild Boulevard
• 3 Mapu Street
• 12 Lilienblum Street
• 79 Herzl Street
• 71 Rothschild Boulevard
• 1 Zamenhoff Street
• 5 Frug Street
• 96 HaYarkon Street
• 29 Idelson Street
• 23-25 Nachmani Street
• 12-20 Nachmani Street

Learn more about Bauhaus in Tel Aviv

If you would like to learn more about modernism in Tel Aviv I recommend visiting the Bauhaus Center at 77 Dizengoff Street. This shop/gallery is the best place to get to know Bauhaus in detail and get some souvenirs: books (not only about Tel Aviv but also other destinations in Israel), posters, postcards and more!

Once a week, on Friday mornings, there are tours that will take you to the most impressive Bauhaus buildings and explain to you all about this architecture style. If you can’t attend the tour don’t worry, you can go for the tour with the audio guide whenever you like!

You can learn more about the Bauhaus Center here.

Bauhaus architecture in Tel Aviv in pictures

And here are a few more pictures to show you that Tel Aviv Bauhaus is really exceptional!

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