WHS#52

I think the term "White City" is just overdone. After visiting Sucre, Arequipa, and Tel Aviv, it seems that every one of these "white" cities is disappointingly not so white, and often, a little disappointing in general. It's not that the name is given to ugly cities, I think it's just that the name draws an immediate picture of a stunningly pristine and glistening urban landscape, and the reality is often far from the truth. For Tel Aviv, though, it may be a bit more than that that doesn't quite impress as much as the rest. Tel Aviv was naturally my first stop upon arriving in Israel in April 2018, and taking a taxi ride to the apartment right by the WHS core zone, it wasn't hard to observe the general style of the buildings. They were all Bauhaus, but not what I had pictured in my head. They were quite simple and modern-looking. But they weren't all white. Or clean. Or in good condition. But they formed a huge ensemble. Everywhere I looked, there was just Bauhaus. That being said, each building did look a bit different. Some were all smooth, white, and curvy. Others looked like sand-colored sandstone blocks. There's might be quite a few things to look out for in this seemingly stylistically coherent district.

After lunch in the excellent shawarma and falafel shop nearby, I started my walking tour of the White City. First stop was Dizengoff Square, but the fountain was covered for renovation which just made the already not so impressive square just look ugly, so I went on to Bialik Square. The side streets I passed on the way were probably the best exhibitions of the uniqueness of Tel Aviv Bauhaus.  They were actually designed with many elements that one would never look at as remarkable, but the truth is the local climate brought out the flat roofs, small windows, multiple balconies, and stilt columns. The columns or pilotis were a really interesting touch to observe because they allow cold air to blow in the large shaded areas they create. Finally approaching Bialik Square, it was a really unassuming neighborhood to house the old city hall; it almost seemed like a residential subdivision with slightly fancier cleaner Bauhaus houses. After this, I left the WHS to visit Carmel Market and Jaffa, which were honestly just as, if not more, interesting. As cool as the Tel Aviv Bauhaus is, and as impressive and extensive of an ensemble the city has, I can't say I was any more than interested. It's never gonna be a site that makes a tourist go woah, and in fact, is quite disappointing for most casual tourists. Maybe a part of that is caused by its distinctive architectural elements being quite common in today's world, which could be, but most likely isn't, a testament of Tel Aviv's legacy in the world. Nevertheless, it's a site of great value. It probably deserves its place on the List, but it isn't exactly the kind of site that would give a great visiting experience or impression. Also, Old Jaffa is more interesting to explore while you're there, so check that out.