Seaside regeneration, Tel Aviv

The design of the Mandarin Oriental in Tel Aviv develops the outdoor receptive spaces, the private terraces, and public spaces, which are full of suggestions that connect the two buildings: the hotel designed by KPF and the residences designed by MZA. The public space on the ground floor connects the park to the east, the waterfront to the west, and the last unbuilt lot on the waterfront, north of Jaffa. It is a particularly desirable location because it is directly connected to the city centre and the city park and is right at the crossroads with the capital's main thoroughfare, Rothschild Boulevard. In this prestigious location, next to the new settlement and directly overlooking the square, is the Hassan Bek Mosque, a historical presence in the city and a meeting place for the Arab community historically settled in Jaffa. The design of the square starts from the attention to directing the flows considering the social context, from the formal synthesis that tells the story of the fabric of the ancient city, made up of openings, glimpses and minutiae, and from the presence of two architectural installations with a well-defined character.

Evoking an open-air theatre with natural and artistic settings, the great vitality of Tel Aviv's coastline is told with the desire to translate the social dimension into a spatial and urban relationship. Nature is the protagonist of the stage, punctuating the view with trees and palm trees in the foreground and, at the same time, the scenic backdrop of a space designed by the grasses, organised with precise gestures, following the flow of the wind coming in from the sea. The dynamic geometry of the landscape invites visitors to explore shady paths and rest areas punctuated by art installations.

The landscape design responds to a photographic reading of today's society, assimilating all its contradictions. The ambition is not to build walls but to plant trees; memory is the starting point towards the future. The landscape of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel includes a first-floor terrace with an open-air bar, mosaic pools and lush vegetation that provides privacy from the street boulevard below and frames the breathtaking view of the sea. The greenery creates niches for relaxation protected from the sun, offering a special atmosphere and an ambience completely immersed in nature. The Presidential Suite features an exclusive pool overlooking the Mediterranean and Tel Aviv skyline on the top floor.

The residences boast an outdoor space that interacts with the main entrance and an exclusive secret garden for residents. This oasis of order and discovery has two swimming pools, solariums, relaxation spaces and pathways that reveal surprising views. Walking through the secret garden, one can discover multiple viewpoints and find plants with sculptural and multi-stem forms, water elements of different shapes and sizes, seating amidst vegetation, and portals that open up to users. The different types of travertine flooring and water elements create changing atmospheres, while the open-air rooms offer unique experiences and intimate spaces where one can lose oneself in the different colours of nature.