What is the White City of Tel Aviv?

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Tel Aviv–Yafo Beach and high-rise buildings in Tel Aviv–Yafo, Israel.

The White City refers to a collection of approximately 4,000 buildings in Tel Aviv constructed between the early 1930s and the late 1940s. These structures were designed by European-trained architects in the International Style, which was heavily influenced by the Bauhaus school.1

The development was based on an urban plan created by the Scottish sociologist Sir Patrick Geddes. The buildings are noted for their simple, functional aesthetic, which was specifically adapted to the local culture, climate, and the needs of the city's inhabitants. Tel Aviv is recognized for having the largest concentration of these International Style buildings in the world. In 2003, the White City was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.1