The Liebling Haus - (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The Liebling Haus in Tel Aviv was built in 1936 to designs by architect Dov Karmi for Tony and Max Liebling after they fled from Europe. With its bright plaster facades, deep balconies, clear proportions, and a layout tailored to the regional climate, it serves as a prime example of the locally adapted International Style that is typical of the White City of Tel Aviv. From 2015 to 2019, the building was extensively restored by Israeli and German planners, renovation experts, and craftspersons, reopening as a vibrant exhibition and community center. The Liebling Haus is supported and funded by the German Federal Government, the City of Tel Aviv, and the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Foundation.

The book, published in three languages, tells the eventful history of the structure and gathers detailed historical materials about its architecture and residents. Current interviews, an atmospheric tour by Israeli photographer Yael Schmidt, and other documents showcase the new use of the Liebling Haus since its reopening.

About the Author

Sharon Golan is the Liebling LAB director. She is a German-born Israeli conservation architect holding a bachelor's degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, a master's degree from the Technische Universität Berlin, and a master's degree in conservation and urban planning from the Technion in Haifa. She specializes in building bridges between sustainability and conservation, with a current interest in developing formats to more holistically exchange knowledge and experience on the future of urban living.

Ellen Kugler is a journalist, moderator, and head of the White City Tel Aviv office at the Office of Federal Construction in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. She studied political science, history, and geography in Bonn, Frankfurt, and Aberystwyth (Wales). Since her first stay in Tel Aviv in 2016, she has known: "In Israel, you have to believe in miracles to be a realist."

Shira Levy Benyemini is the cofounding director and artistic director of the Liebling Haus. She is a city planner, city conservation designer, and a curator with expertise in urban regeneration processes, community planning, and conservation. She explores the interconnections of urban transformation, particularly involving cultural and artistic activities.