Carlton Tel Aviv, rooftop swimming pool.
Originally constructed in the Brutalist architecture style by famed Israeli architect Yaakov Rechter and opened in 1981, the recent Carlton Tel Aviv renovation included a head-to-toe makeover of its 268 rooms-and-suites.
Carlton Tel Aviv underwent a complete renovation totaling $12 million US over a fiveyear period, with the final stages completed in Q3 2016. Under the direction of leading architects London based Ezra Attia and Tel Aviv based Yaron Tal and Gad Halperin, the impetus of the project was to keep Carlton Tel Aviv distinguished as the premiere hotel in Tel Aviv for business and leisure travelers, and outfit the property with the most ecofriendly systems and contemporary upgrades to its timeless interiors.
Originally constructed in the Brutalist architecture style by famed Israeli architect Yaakov Rechter and opened in 1981, the recent Carlton Tel Aviv renovation included a head-to-toe makeover of its 268 rooms-and-suites; the addition of a rooftop, sea-view pool on the 15th-floor (totaling $2,000,000US); the new design of Lumina and Blue Sky restaurants; and the addition of five state-of-the-art event and meeting spaces, including the Magenta Hall, Carmine Hall, Azure Hall, Indigo Hall and the Foyer, along with interior and infrastructural upgrades throughout the property.
Carlton Tel Aviv General Manager Yossi Navi, said the renovation, included the installation of state-of-the-art technical equipment, LED screens throughout the halls and Foyer, an eco-friendly electrical system and unique light fixtures. Each hall features various types of wall materials and are stylized by unique carpentry techniques.The spaces are infused with new furniture, flooring and carpets.
Navi noted that the renovation work was actualized by architect Yaron Tal, who was also responsible for the design of Chef Meir Adoni’s Lumina restaurant, which operates in the hotel and was designed with a modern look and feel.
Regarding the design process and vision for Carlton Tel Aviv redesign: the creative team worked together to envision a contemporary and timeless upgrade to the clean and Mediterranean-inspired interiors of the hotel. The project was handled professionally and efficiently over three years, ensuring minimal disruption of the hotel’s operations and guests.
The first stage of the Carlton Tel Aviv renovation began with the hotel rooms and suites, the Gym & Spa followed by the 15th floor which includes the swimming pool and the Blue Sky by Meir Adoni restaurant. Onwards, the redesign evolved into the Lumina restaurant concept on the first floor, and finally the meeting rooms, public spaces and the lobby. What’s most unique about Carlton Tel Aviv is the fact that it is accessible from the corner of the beach; the form of the building itself cedes to the colors of natural light, the sea, sand, sun, which created the pallets for the renovation and redesign of the hotel.
The design vision was to create a smooth and seamless relationship between the colors, design elements and interiors of the hotel with the natural light, colors of the Mediterranean Sea and Tel Aviv sunshine. Carlton Tel Aviv aimed to always pay homage to the sea whilst dreaming up design and interior pallets and architectural compositions. For example, Lumina was conceptualized with the heavy use of bright and white colors, including drops of blue, gold, silver that make the space very airy, calm and quiet. These colors open the space, and create extension and depth, an optical illusion that opens the focus of the sea.
On inspiration: The renovations to Carlton Tel Aviv remain true to the original construction of the hotel. The building was originally built in a "champignon" shape: the base from the lobby level to the 6th floor represents the "foot" of the "champignon" and from there the floors open up and expand to a larger platform where the guest rooms and suites are located. The shape of the building is square and the guest rooms overlook all four sides of the hotel with full sea, Jaffa view, the Tel Aviv port view and city views. The Carlton Tel Aviv hotel is the only hotel on the sea shore constructed in such a way giving it direct sea views.
On design and color pallets: For Lumina restaurant and in the ballroom, custom lighting fixtures were created by Yaron Tal architects to fully bring forth the most complimentary light schemes possible without ever obstructing the natural light from the glass walls and windows, especially during daytime. Tal created three circled lighting fixtures with patterns inside to change the lighting schemes, all of which boast individual patterns especially for the space in which they sit, and which gives Carlton Tel Aviv a range of schemes and perspective from the front of the halls.
All of the wall coverings were created from Corian, wood and a special cutout of MDF wood, and then painted white. Second and third floors are covered with 3D-wall coverings that were custom-cut for the Carlton Tel Aviv. With the reflection of the floor, it gives a perspective that the space is even bigger. All of these materials are complimentary materials for the location. Throughout Carlton Tel Aviv, furniture and chairs were imported from Italy according to architectural and design plan.
The style of the hotel is perfectly suited for business travelers who are searching for a calm, clean and vibrant Mediterranean aesthetic that makes them feel like they are on holiday, a perfect environment after a long day (or week) of meetings, presentations and pitches. A complimentary feeling was created for families and leisure-travelers who are looking for that classical sense of design, interiors, amenities and architectural design, as well as additional comfort and the extras that the hotel provides to make their guests feel at home.
In addition, the location of the Carlton Tel Aviv is unique in that it is the only Tel Aviv beachfront hotel with direct, unobstructed access to the sea – perfect for business travelers, couples and families. The rooftop restaurant, Blue Sky, offers a sleek modern design allowing guests to sit inside or outside overlooking the entire skyline of the city of Tel Aviv. Together both the restaurant and swimming pool offer panoramic 360-degree views, an unparalleled experience. From the restaurant and pool’s southern edge, one can see all the way to the Old City of Jaffa.
Angelos is the news editor for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). His role includes to monitor the hundrends of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skim the most important according to our strategy.
He currently studies Communication, Media & Culture in Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens.
