Hospitality in the sky: The Sky Lobby transforms living in Israel

The wilshire grand center tower in Los Angeles, which opened in 2017, is the tallest tower on the west side of the United States. The tower, which rises 355 meters high with 73 floors, houses an Intercontinental hotel containing about 900 rooms, as well as employment and commercial spaces. When they sat The developers of the tower and the owners of the hotel with the architects on its plans thought of an unusual move and placed the lobby of the hotel "in the sky".

They placed it on the 70th floor of the tower, which immediately gave every guest upon arrival to check in the effect of "Wow" when they receive the key to the room in front of the iconic view of Los Angeles and California and when they leave, a last look at this view undoubtedly motivates them to return there again. In recent years, we have witnessed a new architectural trend that is changing the face of the urban landscape in Israel and the world - The Sky Lobby. 

The architect Rachel Feller from the Yeski Mor Sivan office explains: "The sky lobby in the world exists in mixed-use buildings, in hotels, and wherever you want to create an experience for people about the height. This makes it possible to create a lobby in which, not only the tenants of the penthouse can enjoy the environmental space, which it provides, but also additional tenants." It is important to note that the Sky Lobby is not limited only to residential towers and hotels. Around the world and in Israel, leading mixed-use office buildings combine this element to create an impressive and inspiring work environment or create prestige in the residential area. For example, The Shard tower in London, which is 309.6 meters high, includes a Sky Lobby that serves as a conference and event center with a panoramic view of the city. One of the prominent examples in Israel of a unique use of the high lobby is the EAST& project in Nachalat Yitzhak in Tel Aviv, the result of a collaboration between the Blue Square Real Estate, the Superin Group, the Weiss Group, GF Real Estate and Bolthaup. 

The architect Rachel Feller, who designed the project, describes its uniqueness: extremely tall residential towers are usually not considered intimate, on the contrary, at EAST& we have the opportunity to give an intimate experience to the tenants thanks to the design of the Sky Lobby. It is an impressive space that rises to a height of 9 stories that you will prepare so that the natural light entering it gives it scale and lightness." The Sky Lobby at &EAST functions as an internal atrium, which creates a unique and impressive space. The architect Rachel Feller adds: "This is an internal patio that creates an intimate experience for the building's residents . The place is a meeting point that contributes to dialogue, community and social life." 

Beyond the aesthetics and the view, the sky lobby offers significant advantages: it provides a common space for tenants, encouraging social interaction. It encourages the issue of sustainability while integrating vegetation and natural light penetrating the building space, it is functional, if for example a part of the space is used for a tenants' club, a gym or a bar overlooking the view. And added value may be in increasing value and attraction for potential buyers.

In the BRIZO project of the Shponder Padlon group, which was designed by an architect from the office of Canaan Shanhav Architects, a unique element of a 'Sky Garden' was planned on the 16th floor of the building. The project is located in the prestigious Park Hayam neighborhood, in Bat Yam and includes 159 housing units in 20 and 23-story towers.

Roi Padlon, CEO and co-owner of the Sheponder Padlon Group notes: "The idea to establish the unique Sky Garden in the project was born thanks to its unique location in the neighborhood, our desire to provide tenants with a different value from the view as well as proximity to the sea. This is a high point in the project, where all the tenants can have a social meeting or personally enjoy an activity in a gym located in the common complex in front of a panoramic view of the sea and the surrounding area. This is an element that undoubtedly positions the project in a different way from other projects in the neighborhood." 

The architect Moshik Ben Dor, a partner at Canaan-Shanhav Architects, also notes that: "There is a trend that characterizes the post-Corona period to create high-quality common spaces in buildings. In the BRIZO project, we created a special lobby space on the 16th floor. This element, of the Sky lobby, gives the building a sculptural quality And a special identity, and together with its location at a height, provide a magical and inspiring view for the tenants."

The Amiri Zichron Ya'akov company, which established the UNITOWERS project, which includes four office towers, also incorporated a unique ROOF TOP at the top of the building as part of the planning. The rooftop complex on the 24th floor is surrounded by glass on all sides, has a spectacular 360 view of the sea and is intended for the residents of the tower.

Architect Avner Sher, planner of the UNITOWERS Tower, notes: "It is proper and accepted in the world to offer tenants in respectable firms significant facilities in the tower. Just as you gave them the option to go down to the lobby or the dining floor, they also have the option to go upstairs. In the case of the UNITOWERS tower, the high lobby is a planned bonus For the well-being of the tenants, where in addition to having the option to go down, they can also go up. In many companies, the events and the fun take place on the roof of the building, certainly when it comes to a spectacular view and the open air of the sea, just like in this case.

"The fun of the beach can be enjoyed upstairs, and it becomes an alternative public function in terms of use for what happens below. The upper lobby, which usually also includes an open roof, often partial, has existed for many years in the world. In cooler countries, they are used as a work area for those who want to breathe a little In Israel and in Tel Aviv in particular, the high lobby or the public balcony overlooking the view can be found more in hotels, mostly boutiques, the remaining space is used for income and less for public spaces, and the powerful companies usually appropriate the premises for themselves. In recent years, and precisely outside of Tel Aviv, we see more planning of public open roofs and roofs and the residents of the towers enjoy twice as much, both a public upper complex with a view and rent at a more accessible price."

The four UNITOWERS towers are above the shopping and entertainment complex 'Mool HaHof - Village' which is a commercial complex with a European street atmosphere that includes more than 120 shops, restaurants and leading international fashion chains.