journal
Photography: Oded Smadar
06 / 06 / 2024
Located in one of Israel's major cities, this villa designed by Israelevitz Architects is an ode to modernism.
In a quiet residential neighbourhood in the heart of one of Israel's most cosmopolitan cities, this luxurious villa is the new home of a large family. Designed to suit the lifestyle of the couple and their six children, the villa breathes fresh air and privacy. Built with two of the facades facing the street, the ‘floating’ home is surrounded by low houses, creating a free and airy environment.
The garden on the ground floor creates a barrier between the outside and the inside of the villa, similar to the iron structure that covers the villa's balconies, allowing the family to enjoy maximum privacy. ‘Significant landscaping was planned in the area of the balconies, and the modern lines were practically dressed on an age-old concept: intimate inner courtyards hanging in the air, with floor-to-ceiling windows allowing an outward view while remaining hidden,’ explains Hila Israelevitz, co-founder of Israelevitz Architects.
In this house, the interior and exterior communicate as a whole - the top floor is surrounded by loggias, and the floor below is enveloped by large windows that allow you to enjoy the garden from inside the house. ‘The leisure area is rich in aquatic elements: a reflecting pool with a ficus tree planted in the centre and a swimming pool, parallel to the living room, forming a direct extension of it.’ The outdoor deck is covered in Guatemalan pink stone, a very similar hue to the pool, which reflects the colours of the water and the sky.
Just like music, this villa also has a careful order and rhythm. In front of the large architectural elements, there are light and floating details, balancing the rigid appearance and giving the house fluidity and life. ‘From every point of view of the villa, the exterior, which has been an essential part of the family's lifestyle, is visible,’ Hila adds.
The main floor consists of just two walls - one in the kitchen and another in the living room. The rest of the space is surrounded by glass, held in place by steel columns on different planes, giving the floor a floating appearance. The centrepiece of this open space - the spiral staircase - connects the dining and living rooms to the bedroom area. The curved lines of the stairs soften the geometric structure, and the combination of the oak wood steps with the grey floor and ceiling creates a perfect balance between flexibility and rigidity, warmth and freshness.
‘The kitchen furniture blends into the monochromatic design of the public space, and the walnut wood adds a dimension of warmth,’ explains the architect. Made up of two areas, the island is covered in natural stone and walnut wood. ‘On the side facing the dining area, we designed a system of transparent glass drawers, giving the countertop a floating appearance, with the stored utensils adding color and texture to the space.’
The villa is divided into three floors - the basement, designed with the couple's children in mind, with a private cinema room and an interior garden; the ground floor, containing the living room and dining room; and the third floor, comprising the bedrooms.
Modern, unconventional architecture combined with careful, meticulous interior design results in this project - a ‘floating’ villa, where the exterior and interior appear to be one, without ever forgetting privacy.
The garden on the ground floor creates a barrier between the outside and the inside of the villa, similar to the iron structure that covers the villa's balconies, allowing the family to enjoy maximum privacy. ‘Significant landscaping was planned in the area of the balconies, and the modern lines were practically dressed on an age-old concept: intimate inner courtyards hanging in the air, with floor-to-ceiling windows allowing an outward view while remaining hidden,’ explains Hila Israelevitz, co-founder of Israelevitz Architects.
In this house, the interior and exterior communicate as a whole - the top floor is surrounded by loggias, and the floor below is enveloped by large windows that allow you to enjoy the garden from inside the house. ‘The leisure area is rich in aquatic elements: a reflecting pool with a ficus tree planted in the centre and a swimming pool, parallel to the living room, forming a direct extension of it.’ The outdoor deck is covered in Guatemalan pink stone, a very similar hue to the pool, which reflects the colours of the water and the sky.
Just like music, this villa also has a careful order and rhythm. In front of the large architectural elements, there are light and floating details, balancing the rigid appearance and giving the house fluidity and life. ‘From every point of view of the villa, the exterior, which has been an essential part of the family's lifestyle, is visible,’ Hila adds.
The main floor consists of just two walls - one in the kitchen and another in the living room. The rest of the space is surrounded by glass, held in place by steel columns on different planes, giving the floor a floating appearance. The centrepiece of this open space - the spiral staircase - connects the dining and living rooms to the bedroom area. The curved lines of the stairs soften the geometric structure, and the combination of the oak wood steps with the grey floor and ceiling creates a perfect balance between flexibility and rigidity, warmth and freshness.
‘The kitchen furniture blends into the monochromatic design of the public space, and the walnut wood adds a dimension of warmth,’ explains the architect. Made up of two areas, the island is covered in natural stone and walnut wood. ‘On the side facing the dining area, we designed a system of transparent glass drawers, giving the countertop a floating appearance, with the stored utensils adding color and texture to the space.’
The villa is divided into three floors - the basement, designed with the couple's children in mind, with a private cinema room and an interior garden; the ground floor, containing the living room and dining room; and the third floor, comprising the bedrooms.
Modern, unconventional architecture combined with careful, meticulous interior design results in this project - a ‘floating’ villa, where the exterior and interior appear to be one, without ever forgetting privacy.
