Architecture Wednesday: Crossword Puzzle House

While the architect, Pitsou Kedem, dubbed this house the AB House, I find it looks more like a crossword puzzle, so, yeah, I changed it.

The perforated panels, placed both on the outside—in white—and inside—in black—can be set in different positions, to change the façade of the home, to change to mood in the rooms, to create better airflow on hot nights.

The house, in Kfar Shmaryahu, north of Tel Aviv, is interesting because of the panels, but also because of the pool that seems to float around the house, and, at one point, above the house.

It’s a large home, roughly 8200 square feet, but made more intimate by the screens, by the spaces, both inside and out, and by the lush gardens that surround it.

I’d like a room at 27 Across, please.

HomeDSGN

Architecture Wednesday: Old Stone, New Home

This home construction, or reconstruction, is located in Jaffa, the oldest part of Tel Aviv, Israel. The home covers an area of 1100 square feet of refurbished rooms united into a bright space with views toward the sea.

The arched entrance, with its old stone walls and stairs of ancient railings, serves as a precursor for the wonderful and stunning transformation of the old stone building. The rooms feature pointed ceilings, painted white, that give a unique and lofty look to each space, and create a perfect counterpoint to the modern furnishings in black metal.

The kitchen, with cabinets also in black, contrasts against the white walls and stone roof, is a bright space due to the natural light that flows in from a large window in the living room, with fabulous views of the sea.

It’s simple, and old, and could be quite cave-like, but the high ceilings, the white paint and the generous sea views make it such a peaceful spot.

 Click to emBIGGERate

HomeDSGN

Architecture Wednesday: Savion Residence

I like this house because it’s a rustic, yet urban, loft-like space that is not nearly as big as its volume suggests; it’s a hair over 1,200 square feet ,,, not a huge space for a family of four.

Neuman Hayner Architects envisioned the home as two cubes, separated by a passage, forming an L-shaped house. The front cube — a double height space — contains the entrance, living room, kitchen, dining room on the ground flow and a study above. The wide passage continues the patio — which is the center of the house — and separates the public wing and the private wing, or rear cube that contains three floors; the ground floor holds another living room, two children’s rooms, a laundry room and a guest bath. The floor above is for the master bedroom with a bridge to the library inside the front cube.

In addition, there is a basement for a guest room, a safe room, and additional storage.

It’s a lot of rooms in not that much space, but it’s so open and bright and urban and rustic … plus there’s a pool!

HomeDSGN