Lilenblum
The architect: Benjamin Chelnov
Preservation architect: Bar-Orian Architects Ltd.

Future Plans: the building was purchased by White City Buildings in partnership with David Rosenberg LLC in an effort to upgrade its value by re-planning the building spaces and preserving it in accordance with its original details. White City Buildings employs architects specializing in building restoration, documentation and restoration of the building’s original details and in preparing the building plans, enabling modern apartment design along with preserving and emphasizing the building details and its architectural value. Future plans include commercial units on the ground floor and apartments on the upper levels. The building was sold and White City Buildings is planning to begin work during 2007.

The story of a building: this office building, located on 41 Lilenblum Street, has a u-shape creating a private inner courtyard with olive and pine trees. The many balconies characterizing the building are evidence of a design considerate of the building employees’ need for “fresh air” breaks. In 1925, a residential building, designed by architect Berlin, was built on this lot while still part of the Tultzimasky family manor. In 1933, the building was purchased by Elyakim Kushnir in order to be demolished and build a new building that will suit the changing environment. In 1934, Tel Aviv, with its 75,000 residents, became a city and transformed into an economic hub. The demand for commercial and industrial space was greater than ever and therefore, banks and office spaces began occupying the apartment buildings in this area between Nahalat Binyamin, Allenby and Lilenblum Streets. In 1937, and as part of that trend, the Tultzimasky house was demolished, and in 1938, a new office building was erected in the new “City” in Tel Aviv formed on the ruins of the historic Ahuzat Bayit. This building, planned by architect Benjamin Chelnov in an International style, still exists with its simple and functional but representative plan. The Kushnir building serves as evidence to the many various phases the city went through, such as the economic prosperity that brought about its erection in the late 1930s, a prosperity caused by the immense Fifth Aliyah immigration that led to the construction of many office buildings in place of the eclectic style private homes. The International style characterizing this building reflects the social and cultural concepts of functionality and cooperation, very common in those days. The building joins its neighbor buildings on the adjacent street to create an urban commercial fabric in this area. The building is unique for its use of various sized balconies on all facades and for its public spaces designed with international style furniture items. The front elevation, facing Lilenblum Street, consists of a combination of simple elements with great attention to the proper balances between the various components, creating an interesting façade with pleasant proportions. Technologically, the building employed modern construction methods characterizing the International style and included using reinforced concrete, columns, wide spans and metal window frames.