Global hotel and spa operator Six Senses is branching further into urban spaces after announcing plans to launch a brand new destination in Tel Aviv, Israel in 2025.

Serving as an entry point to explore many regional wonders such as Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, Six Senses Tel Aviv will join the brand’s urban hotels in Istanbul and soon-to-be-opened Rome, with London, Bangkok, Dubai, Lisbon and Kyoto coming in the next two years.

The upcoming property will be spread across five 110-year-old preservation buildings and a new tower built to LEED Platinum sustainability standards.

The five buildings date back to 1909 – when Tel Aviv as the world now knows it now was in its infancy – and are claimed to be the best remaining heritage of the Ahuzat Bayit settlement, the first in the city.

Six Senses says the original buildings will inspire and define the base and roots of the modern 42-floor tower, which, once complete, will house a 10-floor, 140-key Six Senses hotel and 55 residences, rising a further 21 floors and serviced by Six Senses.

Six Senses Tel Aviv will be the latest addition to the brand’s Israeli portfolio following the 2021 opening of Six Senses Shaharut, a sustainable haven set in the dunes of the Negev Desert.

Wellness is a fundamental pillar of the Six Senses philosophy and is a key component of the vision for Six Senses Tel Aviv. Guests will have access to two floors of spa and wellness facilities including a Holistic Anti-Aging Center overlooking the heritage garden.

In addition, the location will feature Six Senses Place, a new kind of social and wellness community with dedicated space for reflection, growth and reconnection.

Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs called Tel Aviv "one of the most happening cities in the world right now".

He added: "To understand it, you have to experience it, from its innovation hub to its creative and arts scene, its café culture, and its ingenious Israeli chefs."

To hear more about Six Senses’ aspirations and gameplan going ahead, read Spa Business' exclusive interview with Jacobs.

The destination will also be home to a sky pool with a cocktail lounge and panoramic views of the area, a chef’s restaurant, café and bar.

Conservation and modern construction

According to Six Senses, the Tel Aviv property will have its sights set on the future without forgetting the past.

This ethos forms the design brief for the planned preservation works, which will be overseen by local preservation architects Amnon Bar-Or Architects and preservation structural engineer Yaron Gal.

“The original elements in the historic structures have been defined to best preserve them, while the compound is viewed as a whole and integral part of the urban renewal project, with maximum consideration of the unique needs of every modern city complex,” says lead architect Rani Ziss from Amnon Bar-Or.

Interiors by Orly Shrem will connect a contemporary, layered approach with an uncompromising international character as part of a timeless design that will seek to capture the city’s unique character and coast.

This connection will be expressed using classic and clean lines. Spaces will be designed using natural materials and soft, warm colours that naturally integrate with the environment and create a cosy yet elegant atmosphere.

Six Senses is working with an Israeli real estate firm, called Tidhar Group, to realise the project.

Gil Geva, chair of Tidhar, added: “Six Senses Tel Aviv – based on LEED Platinum standards – will be the first of its kind in Israel, setting a new standard for real estate development.”

The project was initiated by Tidhar and joined by Ziv Aviram, one of Israel’s leading entrepreneurs, in 2020.