The Unity Tower in Ramat Gan (Photo: CityBee)
Currently, one of the most impressive towers currently being built in Israel is in the final stages of construction - the Unity Tower on Jabotinsky Route in Ramat Gan. This is an exceptional project that combines residential, mixed-use, a public and commercial building, an urban square on an area of 1.3 dunams, and a police station from the Mandate period that has undergone meticulous preservation.
The tower has 36 floors above ground that include six apartments on each floor, for a total of 200 apartments. On the ground level there is 600 square meters of commerce, and a five-story underground parking lot, which also includes a municipal parking lot for the benefit of the public.
In addition, the project includes the preservation and renovation of a unique building (there are only a few in Israel) in the style of "Tigart", which was used by the British police during the Mandate period, and was built around 1940. Thus, according to the architects who planned the project, "where there were originally stables for the horses of the British soldiers there will be a pleasant common courtyard for the residents of the building."
The project, which covers a 12-dunam complex, is located in the heart of Ramat Gan, within walking distance of employment centers and the metropolitan business center and on the light rail route. The building is built as an urban landmark, as mentioned, on one of the most important arteries in Gush Dan.
Architects Eran Shaked and Eran Leshem, owners of CityBee (Photo: CityBee)
The Unity Tower was built at the initiative of a purchasing group, built by Danya Cebus, and is now shortly before its intended occupancy. The design of the complex was done by architects Eran Shaked and Eran Leshem, owners of CityBee. Now that the project is already built and close to completion, architects Shaked and Leshem talk about the vision that guided them in its planning and their satisfaction with the final result.
"We knew we were planning a tall tower in a strategic location that would dominate the landscape, and we wanted to give it a prominent and unique look. We chose black and white because they are contrasting and dominant and can serve as a reference and orientation point along the axis. The façade has been designed to be dynamic and constantly changing in relation to the point of view. This way, drivers, pedestrians and cyclists will be able to look up for a moment and understand where they are on the axis," Leshem and Shaked say.
"In accordance with the unique location of the lot on Jabotinsky Street, which is a major artery along which the light rail's red line passes, we tried to give the building meaning as a reference point in the space. In addition, in front of the building there is a spacious square that serves as a break on the street and invites users of the urban space to stay and meet and allows a full view of the tower in full."
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Architects Eran Shaked and Eran Leshem, owners of CityBee (Photo: CityBee)
In addition, Leshem and Shaked explain about the round appearance of the building: "The tower itself is completely square and the round appearance is obtained from a perimeter system of beams and columns, which creates the façade design according to the round building lines. The beam system consists of a steel skeleton anchored to the structure in direct continuation of the balcony lines and covered with white aluminum against the background of the dark building. As part of the licensing process, we held lengthy discussions with the local committee, which demanded the installation of laundry ropes in a way that would have damaged the exterior of the building. In the end, we reached an agreement on the matter and the tower's appearance was not damaged. In our view, the tower does not have a secondary façade in importance, it is visible from all directions and therefore the façade speaks the language of a design pattern, a repetitive pattern with a rhythm, which does not betray the uses behind it."
According to Leshem and Shaked, the process of preserving the Mandatory police building was Ger in itself, "This is a Tegart building that belonged to the British police, there are a number of such buildings in Israel that were built at strategic points in the country, for example in Latrun, Petah Tikva and more. Many of them survived because they are made of reinforced concrete. The building itself resembles historic fortresses, an armored structure in the shape of an U. Its use was very similar to the original use, a police station with all that implies. The building has been preserved in accordance with the strictest rules and also the requirements of the police who are supposed to return there, with security and security needs, space for heavy vehicles and more. Where the British soldiers' horse stables were originally located, there will be a pleasant common yard."
The building has additional rights and it is possible that in the future public uses will be added for the benefit of the city's residents. The conservation architect is Amnon Bar Or.
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