What in the world:
Design Museum Holon, Holon, Israel

Why go: Curvaceous and expressionist, Ron Arad's Design Museum in downtown Holon defies Bauhausian efficiencies in an area of the world molded around that movement's strict, practical lines. Arad's brazenly decorative design comprises five Cor-Ten steel ribbons oxidized to different shades of reddish-orange. After wrapping around a courtyard (shown here), the steel strips bind together to create the walls of the museum's small lower gallery, reminding the visitor that "the building envelope is not just a pretty space, it's a structure," says Arad. One band swells into a ramp that connects the museum's two levels; inside, an "immersive design environment" is punctuated by interactive and digital exhibitions accessible through an underground entrance "cave." As for Arad, his ultimate commission was to create a second Bilbao—an obscure city brought to the forefront by a postcard-worthy piece of architecture—and in this capricious rotunda of steel, he may have done just that.

Where to stay: Travel five miles to Tel Aviv to sleep in a recently renovated 1920s mansion: The stark Hotel Montefiore's 12 guest rooms are furnished with original Bauhaus tables, sofas, and lamps (doubles, $350–$400).

Where to eat: Charcuterie, also in Tel Aviv, is a surprisingly porky restaurant on a quiet lane. Its mahogany interiors are adorned with antique lamps (entrées, $15–$20).

Next: New York City's great green cube >