Old City of Jaffa, Tel-Aviv, Israel
Pitsou Kedem Architect
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
The 100 square meter residential home is located in Old Jaffa. Its location is unique in that it is set above the harbor, facing west with all of its openings facing the majestic splendor of the
Mediterranean Sea.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
Whilst it is difficult to determine the buildings exact age, it is clear that it is hundreds of years old. Over the years, it has undergone many changes and had many additions made that have damaged the original quality of the building and its spaces.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
The central idea was to restore the structure’s original, characteristics, the stone walls, the segmented ceilings and the arches including the exposure of the original materials (a combination of pottery and beach sand).
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
The building has been cleaned of all of the extraneous elements, from newer wall coverings and has undergone a peeling process to expose its original state. Surprisingly, modern, minimalistic construction styles remind us of and correspond with the ascetic style of the past, and this despite the vast time difference between them.The central idea was to combine the old and the new whilst maintaining the qualities of each and to create new spaces that blend the styles together even intensify them because of the contrast and tension between the different periods.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
The historical is expressed by preserving the textures and materials of the buildings outer shell and by respecting the building engineering accord. The modern is expressed by the opening of spaces and by altering the internal flow to one more open and free and the creation of an urban loft environment along with the use of stainless steel, iron and Corian in the various partitions, in the openings and in the furniture.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
The project succeeds in both honoring and preserving the historical and almost romantic values of the structure whilst creating a contemporary project, modern and suited to its period. Despite the time differences, the tensions and the dichotomy between the periods exist in a surprisingly balanced and harmonic space.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
The apartment’s cavernous, brick-stone supports and ceiling have been left nude, unadorned with alterations that would only detract from their beauty. The lighting, the art and the furniture follow this focus on simplicity, performing their duties while not drawing the eyes from the grand appearance of the building.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
Another prime feature of this apartment is its view of the Mediterranean, where a small wrap-around balcony reaches into the seas. It is high living in this Tel Aviv environment, where history meets modern, minimal design.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Amit Geron |
The people
Interior Designer: Pitsou Kedem Architect
Location: Old City of Jaffa, Tel-Aviv, Israel
Design team: Pitsou Kedem, Raz Melamed, Irene Goldberg
Surface area: 105 sqm
Project year: 2011
Photographs: Amit Geron
Note>>Location in this map, It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
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