A family which lives for a long time in an old preserved Bauhaus building in the heart of Tel Aviv has decided to ‘recreate’ its home and choose me to do so. After decades in which the family lived at the old apartment, a complete renovation was needed so that I may have an architectural freedom, as well as the ability to recheck the residents’ lifestyles that had changed over the years.
The apartment is in fact two smaller apartments, combined together in order to create a wide space for me to work with. At the same time, it was important to the owners that the option to divide the apartment to several smaller one was to remain open, a simpler as well as cheaper option. Even though they took all the old furniture out, with the exception of the colorful chandelier in the kitchen and the sewing table, when we discussed the design style they had one request, that the house will not radiate a feeling of “new”. That it will have the spirit and mood of olden Tel Aviv, so that when they will enter the new house, it will feel like they always lived there with all the new things.
Despite the great basic stats the apartment had thanks to its high 3.25 meter (~11 feet) tall ceiling, it was dark and claustrophobic. Storage places in the hallways and bathrooms, as well as balconies which were enclosed by dull plastic shutters, as was the norm during past decades. The dramatic decision to open a room as well as the balcony enabled a clear visual line between the eastern and western fronts. Light and fresh air filled the space and a surprising view of a flowering bauhinia tree in the east and a palm tree in the west softened the urban view.
The blue and orange knitted poufs of LoveTayo fit the pillows on the sofa.
Despite the large space, of 14.5m on 3.7m (~48ft on ~12ft), that was created the intimate mood remained. A wall left to the entrance at the center of the room conceals from the family area a practical storage cabin, and from the other side facing the living room stands a panel with a large mirror that reflects the French window across from it.
In the living room there is an ordered sitting place. In front of it there is a chest of drawers as well as a bookshelf that I design in the style of drawers from the 50s made from an American nut tree, which is used in other furniture around the house.
Beyond the living room, under the large window there is a large padded bench with drawers which have a lot of storage space inside them, a perfect place for reading under a gentle sun.
In the original design I meant to expand the opening of the lintel between the corner and the living room in order to reveal the window in its whole glory, but sometimes during renovations there are surprises, and during the destruction phase it became clear (thanks to a constructor, obviously) that the building was designed with no columns, but like old times, with 40cm (~16 inch) thick walls, from silicate bricks. Therefore, in order to not harm the legality of the building the walls remained intact.
The vibrant and inspiring paintings of Alona Gal have an African feel, and connect greatly with the wooden items from Afro gallery.
The windows were replaced with Belgian windows and the original terrazzo floor was polished all around the house.
The kitchen is considered a room. A place for hanging, chatting, meeting and even cooking. The windows at the height of the countertop create a depth of 105cm (~3″6inch), a perfect place for displaying plants and favorite decorations.
At the center of the kitchen, on the painted concrete floor, there is a large wooden table, the social center of the house, over which the joyful vibrant chandelier that is with family for a long time is hanged. The yellow touches that lighten the room appear in the floor, as well as in the chandelier and the Eames chairs around the table.
In the master bedroom white oak parquet was laid. The Eames chair was reupholstered by our request when we ordered it from Items together with the white nightstand.
In the parents bathroom a white plaster completes the white bricks overlay on the walls and leaves the focus for the painted floor.
When there are such beautiful windows they fill the whole room with an aura.
The general bathing room keeps the freshness with clean lines, a lot of whites and tuches of green.
There is no doubt this is one of my favorite and most cherished projects. Thanks to a fascinating journey which I went through with my kind and trusting clients. Every moment was a pleasure, and it is seen in the outcome. And, in my point of view I got even a better bonus, I met a new friend.
The wonderful pictures are by Aviv Koret
