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עמוד:11
115 expressed in the need to transfer the municipal offices to an appropriate building . The old residence of the Tel Aviv Committee, which was the water tower on Rothschild Street, was not suited to meet the needs of the municipality . The municipality was transferred to the building at the top of the hill in the summer of 1925 . The building was intended as a temporary location, until the municipality's permanent residence would be constructed . With the transfer of the municipality to its new residence, the place became what may be termed "the civic center of the Hebrew city" . While the municipality building was positioned at the top of the hill ) although not at its highest point, which was claimed by Bialik's residence ( , the hill was merely a local reference point . Furthermore, the municipality building was not monumental, and in that respect it did not serve Bruno Taut's concept of Die Stadtkrone the City Crown ( : a monumental structure which ) stands out against the backdrop of its surroundings, symbolizing strength and authority . 6 Aside from this, the building was situated at the end of the line of vision of those entering the street, and thus stood out in the local landscape . The plaza at the end of Bialik Street created a geographic context shared by various buildings . The spatial proximity also had a mythical dimension . The physical proximity of Bialik's residence to the municipal offices cemented the vision of the Hebrew city in concrete terms of location and architecture : the municipal offices were representative of the city as a political entity and civil community, while Bialik's residence represented Hebrew culture and national revival as an essential aspect of Tel Aviv . Arie Shenkar's residence next to the municipality building invested the place, which was already saturated with Zionist associations, with additional symbolic meaning : the home of the "father of Hebrew industry" in the land of Israel represented Dizengoff's vision of the capitalistic city in the local landscape . Bialik's residence served as a meeting place for people from the literary scene and a place of pilgrimage for regular folks and children . Adoration for the national poet was expressed also by the fact that the house he lived in and the garden he cultivated appeared on postcards . The house, which was Bialik's home as well as a cultural institution, became an architectural icon of the Zionist revival . Bialik's peace of mind was disturbed by the public status his private home had attained, so much so that several months before the month of Tamuz ) July ( the month of his death, he moved to live in 1934, Ramat Gan . The municipality building was the city's administrative center ; this was where the mayor's office and various municipal offices were located, and this was also where the mayor held receptions for high - ranking delegations and guests who visited the city . In June of 1947 an UNSCOP delegation, touring British mandate Palestine in a fact - finding mission before recommending the partition of the land, met with Mayor Israel Rokach at his office . In this meeting Mayor Israel Rokach presented Tel Aviv's achievements as an example of Jewish self - rule . In December of 1952 Tel Aviv welcomed Israel's President Itzchak Ben Zvi . The festive reception was held at the municipality building . The p la za in front o f the munici pality building was a public space, and despite its limited dimensions, it served as a city square of sorts, a place where citizens congregated on festive occasions . Old photographs teach us that plants were planted in the center of the plaza . At first there was a square garden with seedlings, later it became a round garden with cacti . In 1936 a fountain was built at the center of the plaza . Steps led from the plaza up to the entrance of the municipality building . This formulated the hierarchical relationship between the municipal authority and the citizenry . On special occasions the mayor would address the public gathered on the plaza from the balcony at the front of the building . On celebrations and special events the municipality building was decorated with flags and special lighting . The plaza functioned as the "city square" in the ceremonial fabric of Tel Aviv . Crowds would gather there for large funerals of renowned personages and during celebrations . Mass funeral processions stopped in front of the municipality building on their way to the old cemetery on Trumpeldor Street . The first funeral procession was that of Max Nordau, who was re - interred in Tel Aviv in May of In January of 1927 the funeral procession for . 1926 Ehad Ha'am stopped in front of the municipality building . Bialik addressed the crowds gathered there . Davar newspaper reported : "The plaza in front of the municipality building and all of Bialik Street were crowded to the point of suffocation" . 7 Bialik received a similar honor in 1934, as did Dizengoff in 1936 and Dov Hoz in 1940 . On anniversary celebrations of Tel Aviv in 1929 and in
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פורטוגלי, נילי
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