From Bauhaus To Luxury: Inside Tel Aviv’s Lavish Karim Rashid-Designed Boutique Hotel

A stunning boutique hotel designed by world-renowned industrial designer and architect Karim Rashid has opened in Tel Aviv, the starchitect’s first project in Israel.

A 40-room hotel located on the historic Magen David Square in the heart of the city (at the intersection of King George, Sheinkin, and the Carmel Market), the lavish Poli House is housed in a restored Bauhaus building, originally constructed in the 1930s in the spirit of functionalism and minimalism. All rooms and suites were exclusively designed by the award-winning designer.

Poli House. Photo via Poli House’s Facebook Page

The center of Tel Aviv, which boasts dozens of buildings designed in the spirit of the International Style and the Bauhaus School, was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO some 14 years ago, and is known by many as “The White City.”

You can see these white buildings from the hotel‘s rooftop, which offers a spectacular panoramic view, along with an infinity pool, sunbathing lounge, cocktail bar, a spa and a charming café where breakfast is served.

Poli House Hotel Tel Aviv. Photo via Poli House’s Facebook Page

The hotel’s interiors are colored yellow, blue, green and white, with a psychedelic flare. “The Poli House embodies the eccentric diversity of culture and design in Tel Aviv: street art and graffiti-lined streets,” according to the hotel.

What gives the hotel its edge? Its “mélange of whimsical, futuristic interior design and the clean and calming elements of Bauhaus architecture,” the owners say.

Pool Poli House . Photo via Poli House’s Facebook Page

The hotel also features Rashid’s hand-drawn blueprints, sketches and inspirations for the property, as well as liquid-type patterns with yellow, blue, green, pink and white colors “influenced by the natural sundrenched palettes of Tel Aviv.”

SEE ALSO: From Lego-Style Buildings To Mega Hotels, Legendary Israeli Architect Moshe Safdie Still Stuns The World

Tel Aviv-based Nitza Szmuk Architects was responsible for the building’s preservation and restoration.

Polishuk morphed into Poli

Built in 1934, this Bauhaus building originally designed by architect Shlomo Liaskowski, was called The Polishuk House. It included 15 shops and 50 offices, and a clandestine Etzel (underground military organization) printing press.

SEE ALSO: Tel Aviv’s Brown Beach House Voted World’s Best Designed Hotel

Rashid completely reimagined the Polishuk House and “created a new vision for the building to serve as a vibrant, landmark boutique hotel that Tel Aviv has never before seen,” the owners state.

The prices, however, have been seen in the relatively expensive city before: A night at the Poli House starts at $171 per room; the circular suite costs $340, according to the hotel’s reservation system.

Polishuk House in the 1930s. Photo via Poli House’s Facebook Page

The stunning Poli House is a member of the Brown Hotels Group, which owns Brown TLV, and the Brown Beach House in Tel Aviv, with Brown Jerusalem scheduled to open this year. Another hotel developed by the group, in Croatia, opened last year.

From Egypt to the MoMA

Rashid is one of the most prolific designers of his generation. With 300 awards and 3,000 designs in production, he’s currently working in 40 countries.

Karim Rashid in a mesmerizing Poli House bathroom he designed. Photo via Poli House’s Facebook Page

Born in 1960 in Egypt, Rashid grew up in Canada. He has designed a concept store for Giorgio Armani, perfume bottles for Kenzo, watches and tableware for Alessi, lighting for Artemide and products for Veuve Clicquot, to name a few.

He has also worked with Audi, Samsung and Swarowski, Davidoff, Issey Miyake, and Estee Lauder.

His work is featured in 20 permanent collections and art galleries worldwide, including the prestigious MoMA, Centre Pompidou, and SFMOMA.

Poli Exterior. Photo via Poli House’s Facebook Page

Photos: Poli House