Old and New in Dialogue: Preservation and Renewal in the Urban Core
The historic buildings Beit Schlossberg (52 Allenby) and Beit Idelzak (54 Allenby) are a pair of buildings designated for preservation in the center of Allenby Street in Tel Aviv. The buildings, a testament to the work of architect Alexander Levy, who designed 54 Allenby and possibly its neighbor as well, originally served as apartment buildings, a municipal girls' school, and even a hotel. They are distinguished by unique architectural details, including Moorish arched windows and rich ornamentation, but over the years they suffered from wear and later additions that obscured their character. The project sought to restore the buildings' historic presence while using the remaining building rights to expand and unify them. The new intervention was integrated with a meticulous preservation of the façades, so that their identity is maintained alongside the contemporary layer of construction.
From Material Dialogue to Residential Experience
The project, developed in collaboration with Kimmel-Eshkolot Architects, included the careful restoration of the original façades using a historically informed color palette of sky blue and gray-beige, selected to emphasize the buildings' architectural details. The main intervention involved adding a contemporary white residential volume above the historic buildings. Its clear geometric form is deliberately distinguished from the original structures, allowing the new addition to remain visually legible as a separate architectural layer. The original entrances along Allenby Street were converted into active commercial spaces, including a transparent glass volume positioned between the two historic buildings as part of the retail frontage. Residential access was relocated to the rear, creating a quieter and more private entrance away from the busy street. At street level, the project establishes an urban plaza with an active commercial frontage, while the upper levels accommodate a diverse mix of residential units.
