Lessin Tower & Complex by MYS Architects: A Dialogue Between Modern Vertical Living and Mid-Century Heritage in Tel Aviv

Rising in the heart of Tel Aviv-Yafo, the Lessin Tower & Complex by MYS Architects redefines mixed-use urban architecture through a sophisticated interplay of heritage, sustainability, and high-rise luxury. Completed in 2023, the 22,720 m² development is strategically located within walking distance of the Mediterranean coastline, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Hayarkon Park, and the city’s Tower Belt District, anchoring it in a vibrant and culturally rich context.

A Composition of Contrast and Continuity

At the base of the complex sits the lightly restored Beit Lessin, a three-story mid-century building that reflects the architectural values of its era—simple volumes, exposed concrete and stucco, and brise-soleil facades crafted to respond to Tel Aviv’s Mediterranean climate. This historic layer serves as a foundation, both physically and conceptually, for the striking 27-story Lessin Tower, which rises to 98.3 meters.

The new tower is envisioned as a vertical extension of Beit Lessin—a mass turned upright to create shaded open spaces and pedestrian pathways interwoven with greenery. The form presents a deliberate material contrast—its light, glazed façade and ceramic frit glass prisms reflect and refract light, imparting an illusion of dematerialization, a "tower defined by air."

Sustainable Urban Living Meets Luxury Design

Lessin Tower houses 58 residential units, ranging from one to three apartments per floor, crowned by a luxurious triplex penthouse. Residents benefit from a host of curated amenities, including:

• Underground parking
• Bike storage at ground level, supporting Tel Aviv’s green mobility initiatives
• Concierge lobby
• Fully equipped gym, spa, and indoor pool
• Rooftop infinity pool and deck with panoramic views of the city, sea, and park

The design emphasizes climatic responsiveness, incorporating brise-soleil elements, sunshades, and wind-break systems that provide shaded transitions between different functional zones while maintaining seamless visual connections to the skyline.

Performative Public Realm

The entrance plaza forms a lively social hub, where retail outlets and cafes at Beit Lessin blend with the wellness offerings of the tower. Enhanced by ecological water features, pocket gardens, and soft ambient lighting, the zone fosters a unique atmosphere of urban tranquility. This multifunctional landscape anchors the tower to its surroundings, providing a calming urban retreat amidst the city’s energetic pace.

A Tower of Light and Air

The crown of the tower merges architectural elegance with environmental awareness. Ceramic frit glass prisms, paired with internal aluminum light reflectors, create a dynamic façade that shimmers with shifting sunlight and interior illumination, producing an ephemeral, cloud-like presence on the skyline. This nuanced composition not only reinforces the tower’s formal lightness, but also advances a contemporary reinterpretation of local modernism.

Lessin Tower & Complex stands as a bold architectural statement—bridging the mid-century architectural legacy of Tel Aviv with the demands and aspirations of contemporary vertical urbanism. It is a celebration of form, light, nature, and human experience in one of Israel’s most dynamic urban environments.

All Photographs are works of Nimrod Levy