The ToHA office building marks the first phase of a 200,000 square meter development near the Tel Aviv city center train station, designed to provide extensive public space for the surrounding area. This project is the inaugural joint venture between Amot and Gav Yam, Israel’s two largest investment developers, and the initial phase of the office building has recently been completed.
The first phase features a 28-story building covering 53,000 square meters, positioned along the southern and eastern edges of the site. The building’s striking design includes a seven-story high entrance hall accessed through a 30-meter tall inclined cable-net façade adorned with lush greenery. Above this entrance, a 100-meter tall sculptural atrium is topped by a massive skylight. The stepped configuration of the atrium mirrors the exterior facade’s tiered design, allowing natural light from the skylight to penetrate every corner of the space.
The building’s footprint is compact at just 1,200 square meters, supported structurally by a core tube. The architects strategically placed most of the HVAC equipment within the core area on the lower floors, freeing up additional public space on the rooftop. This rooftop area features two large terraces, peripheral walkways, and three restaurants. The lower floors housing the equipment are wrapped in permeable facades composed of intersecting panels arranged in an “X” pattern. This woven basket-like facade not only provides excellent ventilation for the equipment but also unifies the aesthetic of the building’s first seven floors.
One of the building’s key features is the diversity of its interior layout, which stems from its sculptural form. The design has been continuously refined to address various challenges, such as shaping the urban skyline contours to engage with the city, mitigating high-rise wind effects, and maximizing natural light penetration using BIM technology. The interior spaces are also designed for flexibility to accommodate changing tenant needs over time. Although each floor’s layout is unique, they maintain enough consistency to allow for flexible planning and subdivision. Floor areas range from 1,860 to 3,100 square meters, with some floors configured as large open spaces and others divided into up to seven smaller units.
Regarding sustainability, the project integrates extensive research and development efforts by combining traditional passive regional design strategies with cutting-edge intelligent facade systems. These innovations leverage the latest technologies to enhance the working environment, focusing on adaptability, connectivity, comfort, and convenience. Additionally, the project team has set ambitious goals to minimize the building’s environmental impact throughout construction and operation. Their commitment has earned the project LEED Platinum certification.
Facade Details:
Design Drawings:
▲ Concept sketch
▲ Concept sketch
▲ Concept sketch
▲ Model
▲ General layout plan
▲ Standard floor plan
▲ North elevation view
▲ Sectional view
▲ System analysis
▲ System analysis
▲ Structural analysis
▲ Light analysis
▲ Light analysis
▲ Energy saving analysis
Analysis of the “X” Shape
Project Information:
Architectural Firm: Ron Arad Architects
Location: Tel Aviv Yafo, Israel
Category: Office Facilities
Lead Architect: Asa Bruno
Design Team: Julian Gilhespie, Benjamin Dresner-Reynolds, Shalhevet Visner, Alan McLean, Adam Furman
Building Area: 53,000 m²
Completion Year: 2019
Photographers: Fernando Alda, Asa Bruno
Material Manufacturer: Cosentino
Senior Partner: Paul Madden
Partner: Julia Almeida
Executive Architect: Avner Yashar, Yashar Architects (Israel)
Engineering Consultants: Buro Happold (UK), David Engineers (Israel)
Landscape Design: VOGT (UK), TeMA (Israel)
Clients: Amot and Gav Yam
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