Habima Square is a popular public space located right in the center of Tel Aviv, at the intersection of two of the city’s busiest and most popular streets – Dizengoff Street and Rothschild Boulevard – and is home to a number of cultural institutions such as the Habima Theatre, the Culture Palace (“Hechal Hatarbut”), and the Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art. Given its central location, visitors always have plenty of choices for great eateries and entertainment within walking distance.
History of Habima Square
The idea to establish a cultural center in this location was originally proposed in the Geddes Plan, the first master plan of Tel Aviv planned by Patrick Geddes in the late 1920s. Geddes envisioned a kind of a modern “Acropolis”. In his plan, this little hill would be the cultural core of Tel Aviv, while Dizengoff Square nearby would be a commercial center of a different character.
The cornerstone of Habima Theatre was laid in 1935. The square was inaugurated next to the theatre, but it took more than two decades to finish the plan as the Helena Rubinstein Pavilion of Contemporary Art was established in 1952, and in 1957 the Culture Palace (“Hechal Hatarbut”) was inaugurated and declared as the home of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. A year after, Habima was declared the national theatre of Israel. Thus the importance of the compound as a national culture center was increased.
Habima Square buildings are a part of the White City of Tel Aviv. The buildings are built in the international style, and many buildings around the square which are also designed in the international style are intended for preservation as a part of the heritage site.
The square serves as a cultural oasis away from the busy chaos of the commercial streets surrounding it and is a popular spot for both tourists and locals. The sunken garden in the square is a great place to relax with a book or to practice your people-watching skills. The minimalistic design of the square along with the impressive theatre and auditorium on both sides (which were renovated as part of Tel Aviv’s centennial celebrations), creates a dramatic atmosphere, especially in the evening.
Yaakov Garden
Yaakov Garden was established on a hill, which is located between Habima Teather and the Culture Palace. The Tel Aviv Museum was originally planned to be built on this location, so the Helena Rubinstein Pavilion of Contemporary Art was built next to it. However, in order to preserve the ancient and thick sycamore trees that grew on the hill, it was decided to build the Tel Aviv Museum in its current location and establish a garden there instead.
The garden is built on two levels. The entrance to the lower level is on the side of Beit Habima and Chen Boulevard, where benches are placed in green shaded corners. Except for the sycamore trees, there are no other trees in the garden and therefore it is sunny during the day.
It is recommended to take some time and explore the surroundings of the square, from the more intimate corners of the garden to the water basin and the impressive architecture of the city’s most important cultural institutions. Once you are done, Keep going east on Ben-Zion Boulevard until you reach King George Street for an urban lively scene. If you are looking for a more sophisticated vibe, you can walk towards Rothschild Boulevard with its benches, bike lanes, gourmet eateries, and coffee shops.