Sheinkin St. Heritage Urban Renewal

ODO Architects

Short description

"Sheinkin Street is located in the historic heart of Tel Aviv and has been an important pillar in the development of the city since its inception. It also serves as a symbol of urban renewal in central Tel Aviv since the 1990s and its part of Unesco's white city buffer zone.

The presented projects consist of three buildings that have been declared as preserved buildings and are situated at the first segment of the street.
They demonstrate the firm's concept of intervention and additions to these buildings as part of urban renewal and the continuation of the urban story. When talking about conservation, the 'preservation people' are often associated with nostalgia and reactions to development trends. However, the question of conservation and the need for it actually arise when there is development and the need to connect the next chapter with the previous chapter of the story. Most people will agree that they are not in favor of the total erasure of the remains of the past and the connections to our history. The question is more about what we leave, what continues, and what remains only as a memory without physical expression or is forgotten... and what we pass on to future generations.

When we make an addition to a preserved building that is part of the urban fabric and does not constitute an unusual occurrence in the urban continuum, we strive for the building and the addition to appear as one whole at first glance. It is a whole composed of layers, but the full story of the structure will be revealed upon closer inspection.

We aim to create a dialogue between the old structure and the new, where each influences the other, merging into one 'story' like a tango dance. In many cases where there are multiple additional floors, we create intermediate floors that provide a more gradual transition between the new and the old, creating a balance between the existing volume and the new. Just like time and history, which never remain stagnant at a single point, there is always a before and after, and what is in between.

As soon as one looks at the building, it becomes clear that there is a heritage building that has gone through the process of adding an extension. But one has to ask oneself where exactly the transition and change happened. This question arouses curiosity, interest, and a need to explore and learn. What exactly characterizes the international style in the original building that is absent in the addition? Or vice versa. The structure and addition should allow for such examination, and those who are uninterested will only perceive the 'simple' aspects. I believe the buildings should raise questions and not just provide answers to the viewers. This depth offers diverse reading possibilities of the 'story' we aim to convey on multiple levels.

Since the buildings and their urban context have been part of our lives for decades, the complexity and depth allow for a renewed discovery of details, a fresh perspective on the buildings, and a rich texture."

Sheinkin 20
The Arie Bril house was built in different phases between the years of 1919-1923. The core of the building was designed by Engineer L. Feinstein and was one of the first houses in the historic "Craftsmen A" neighborhood. The evolution of the building is entwined with the development of Shenkin St. in Tel Aviv.
The original two storey, roof-tiled building was designed in the Eclectic style. A new addition of two storeys on the original contour, one backset story, a roof story and a new wing at the back front of the building was built.
The challenge we encountered was combining a new addition, double the original building, to an historic building, in a way that will pay respect to the building and city's history, and will continue to tell their stories.
Shenkin 20 (Sam Blondie hotel) succeeds in creating a perceived whole, while at the same time achieving complexity and richness of details and materials – emphasizing the building's rich history and new developments.
In this matter, the end result enables different experiences levels of the building. The first is visual and immediate and merges with harmony created in the general whole of the building and its aesthetics.
The second is analytical, provoking the viewer to search and investigate the changes and developments that occurred in the transitions throughout different historic times. What is new and what is old is somewhat blurred, while at times emphasized, always keeping the image of a whole.

Sheinkin 16
Ridman house was built between 1934-1935 as part of the second phase of "Craftsmen B" neighborhood. The building was originally designed by architect I. Burman for Ya'akov Ridman, in the International style. The building has a symmetrical façade to Shenkin street with balconies that integrate built balustrades and ironworking balustrades and windows which emphasize the horizontal line. The original building was three stories, this comprised a commercial ground floor and two residential floors.
“Ridman house" manages to preserve, rehabilitate and transform the original building whilst adding new stories and housing units. This creates a fusion between the old and the new, in which elements of the historic building are retained to create a dialogue between the modern addition and the original building. Indeed, the addition has been given enough space to cultivate its own presence,
yet it grows and converses in tight relation with the original building, resulting in a new, empowering modern interpretation of the values and components of the historic design of the building.


Sheinkin 3
Feldstein house was built between 1925-1926 and designed by the architect Moshe Lubernizky for residential and commercial purposes in the eclectic style. The building has a symmetrical façade to Shenkin street. The original building was three stories, this comprised a commercial ground floor and two residential floors. Floor A and B floors specializing in two distinctive types of bay windows, the two arches provide depth to the façade and contribute to a clear delineation of four vertical fields.
“Feldstein house" manages to preserve, rehabilitate and transform the original building whilst adding new stories and housing units. This creates a fusion between the old and the new, in which elements of the historic building are retained to create a dialogue between the modern addition and the original building. Indeed, the addition has been given enough space to cultivate its own presence,
yet it grows and converses in tight relation with the original building, resulting in a new, empowering modern interpretation of the values and components of the historic design of the building.