Max Liebling House

Max Liebling House
Map
General information
Architectural styleBauhaus, International Style
Location29 Idelson Street, Tel Aviv, Israel
Construction started1936
Design and construction
Architect(s)Dov Karmi

Max Liebling House is a Bauhaus-style modernist building in Tel Aviv, Israel. Located at 29 Idelson Street, it was designed by architect Dov Karmi and built by Tony and Max Liebling in 1936.[1][2]

History

Max Leibling house was the first building in the country to use elongated recessed balconies, an adaptation of Le Corbusier's strip windows.[2] Horizontality is emphasized by the narrow intervals between the building's parapet and overhang; not only does this have the design impact of emphasizing the horizontal style, it has the practical effect of screening out the heat of the Mediterranean sun.[2] The timbered pergola, a design element frequently seen in Jerusalem, is unusual in Tel Aviv.[2]

In 2014 Max Liebling House was one of the first ten modernist buildings to receive restoration grants under the Getty Foundation's new "Keeping It Modern" initiative.[3][4]

In 2015 the German government funded the restoration of the House as a museum that would also oversee the restoration and preservation of Tel Aviv's notable Bauhaus buildings.[5][6][7][8] Tel Aviv's White City district, a designate World Heritage Site, is the largest collection of German Bauhaus-style buildings found anywhere in the world.[9]

Design

The house features distinctive characteristics of the International style, such as a designed entrance that also includes a fishpond, a luxurious staircase room, and recessed balconies.[10]

The house stands out as the first building in Israel to use elongated recessed balconies as an adaptation to the ribbon windows (continuous horizontal windows serving as a motif in the building envelope, allowing any desired opening for light, air, and a sense of flow into the building) of Le Corbusier. The horizontal lines are emphasized by the narrow spaces between the building's shell and the pergola; the building incorporates design influences that highlight the horizontal style, as well as a practical effect of shading from the Mediterranean midday sun. The wooden-covered pergola, an architectural element often seen in Jerusalem, is rarer in Tel Aviv.[11]

During the renovation, efforts were made to preserve the unique style of the building. According to architect Rivka Karmi, responsible for the renovation, the uniqueness of the building also arises from the proportions of the front and its connection to the street. The balconies and narrow windows serve as mediation between the outside and inside, isolating from noise and light.

The research conducted prior to the renovation, as well as its planning and execution, mostly using traditional materials and techniques, were carried out in collaboration with experts from Germany who prioritized the building's needs over other considerations. In some walls, previous paint layers were preserved, and some were repainted in the original colors of Le Corbusier. The windows, frames, and doors were restored to details, including adjustable blinds in the doors. In the front restoration, the original plaster was preserved as much as possible, and cracks were fixed using a special technique rather than replacing the entire plaster.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Stein, Claudia (2015). Tel Aviv: Der Reiseführer. p. 66. ISBN 3734774314.
  2. ^ a b c d Metzger-Szmuk, Nitza (2004). Des maisons sur le sable: Tel-Aviv, mouvement moderne et esprit Bauhaus. éditions de l’éclat. p. 87. ISBN 2841620778.
  3. ^ Testado, Justine (10 September 2014). "The Getty Foundation selects the first 10 modern projects to receive grants in worldwide preservation effort". Archinet. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  4. ^ "The Getty Foundation Announces Major Philanthropic Initiative Focused On Conserving 20th Century Architecture". getty.edu. Getty Foundation. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Germany giving $3.2M to help Tel Aviv preserve Bauhaus buildings". JTA. 12 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Saving the world's largest Bauhaus settlement". Deutsche Welle. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Germany Donated $3.2 Million to Restore the World's Largest Collection of Bauhaus Buildings". Architectural Digest. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  8. ^ Achterhold, Gunda (24 March 2014). "A network for the White City". DE. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  9. ^ UNESCO, Decision Text, World Heritage Centre.
  10. ^ https://www.tel-aviv.gov.il/Visitors/ArtCulture/Pages/whitecity.aspx?IccID=108 בית ליבלינג – מרכז העיר הלבנה Beit Liebling - White City centre, Tel Aviv city hall
  11. ^ Metzger-Szmuk, Nitza (2004). Des maisons sur le sable: Tel-Aviv, mouvement moderne et esprit Bauhaus. éditions de l’éclat. p. 87. ISBN 2-84162-077-8.
  12. ^ נחמני, יונת (2019-09-11). "בית אב: בית ליבלינג יעמוד במרכז חגיגות ה־100 לבאוהאוס". כלכליסט - www.calcalist.co.il. Retrieved 2023-11-25.

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32°04′24″N 34°46′13″E / 32.0734°N 34.7704°E / 32.0734; 34.7704