Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv Set for Major Overhaul After 50 Years

Dizengoff Center, a landmark Tel Aviv shopping mall, is slated for its most significant architectural transformation since opening in the 1970s. A new plan, recommended by the Local Planning and Building Committee and awaiting district committee review, aims to convert the aging mall into a vertical, community-oriented, and sustainable micro-city.

The project involves increasing the mall's height from four to seven stories, adding approximately 32,800 square meters. A key feature is the development of a public, open green park spanning at least 3.5 dunams (about 0.86 acres) on the mall's roof. This park will be accessible from surrounding streets and will include gardens, urban farming areas, beekeeping initiatives, seating, and renewable energy facilities.

The plan also redefines the mall's usage to meet modern urban needs. It includes a boutique hotel with around 50 rooms, public spaces for daycare centers and kindergartens, and up to 85 micro-apartments for permanent rental. Approximately 15% of these apartments will be designated as affordable housing at a reduced price for 25 years.

Street-level changes will feature transparent commercial storefronts and improved pedestrian connectivity. Unusually, the plan will not add parking spaces and will slightly reduce the existing ones, intending to decrease private vehicle traffic in the area. If approved by the District Committee, Dizengoff Center will become a model for green and sustainable urban living.