Tel Aviv Engineer Reveals Azrieli Spiral Tower Will Forego Residential Units

Tel Aviv Municipality Engineer Udi Carmeli revealed that the Azrieli Group has decided to cancel the residential component of its upcoming Spiral Tower. Carmeli stated that the trend is shifting, with developers increasingly opting to convert residential spaces to commercial use, citing the Azrieli project as a prime example. This development contrasts with previous desires to convert office towers into residential units to address housing shortages.

Carmeli emphasized that high-rise construction requires a delicate balance of various interests, including engineering, legal, and bureaucratic considerations. He highlighted the complexity of integrating commercial traffic, such as dozens of daily truck deliveries, into the urban system without disrupting residents' lives. He also noted that in areas with predominantly residential buildings, developers are finding it more viable to convert new residential projects to commercial use.

Addressing urban planning concerns, Carmeli asserted that the city aims to create a diverse urban fabric, not just spaces for the wealthy or tech workers. He dismissed restrictions on construction near the metro as "nonsense," arguing that urban infrastructure and transportation systems can coexist effectively, as seen in other major cities worldwide.

During the same conference, Jerusalem Municipality Engineer Yoel Even discussed his city's approach to high-rise construction, stating that while he supports towers, they were not the primary policy. He mentioned that in 2024, only 30% of buildings exceeded 20 stories, and most high-rise projects also include lower-density construction. Even also defended the Epstein Tower project against critics, calling their arguments manipulative and highlighting the project's inclusion of public spaces, rental housing, commercial, and hotel facilities.

Jimmy von Klemperer, President of KPF Architects, provided details on the Spiral Tower's design, noting it will be Tel Aviv's tallest building at 91 stories and is intended for mixed-use including offices, a hotel, apartments, and retail. He explained the tower's tapering design, which starts wider at the base for offices and narrows towards the top for residential and hotel use, was developed in dialogue with the existing Azrieli towers.