Rubinsky House, Tel Aviv

Designed in 1935 and restored in 2008, Rubinsky House symbolizes the birth of 'Israeli Bauhaus'. The first thing to note about it are the rows of hanging columns leading into the stairwell. This three-block residential building was, in fact, the first structure to obtain permits for such columns which, by favoring pragmatism and simplicity over beauty, quickly became the standard of modern construction throughout Israel.

Contrary to the spirit of Bauhaus, however, the street facades on Shenkin Street borrow elements from Modernism, here made evident in the awnings, rounded terraces and windows, hanging concrete beams and gutters, as well as scraped plaster with a glittering mineral aggregate typical of the period, all serving as decorative elements. The lobby, with its majestic staircase, leads to spacious apartments, but also to a new rooftop penthouse, which is not as immediately apparent from the street.