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Location: Israel 

Architect: Dana Oberson Architects Ltd

Construction : Itai Gil Construction 

Photography : Amit Geron 

Dana Oberson Architects Ltd designed a contemporary colonial villa in the eastern part of southern Israel for a single family. The villa stood out from the current wave of Israeli architecture that prioritizes spacious exhibition halls, as it reflected a different and rare approach to the idea of a home. It was modernist but not made of exposed concrete and rustic yet without brick walls. 

The clients were willing to experiment with a different approach to home design, and the architects were open to creating something unique while interpreting each client’s desires in multiple ways. The resulting house was a combination of the clients’ wishes, the planners’ vision, the story, and the place, creating a home that was more than just a house.

The house had a non-standard ceiling height of 340 cm and symmetrical iron lintels that stretched towards the full ceiling height, creating a sense of greatness while maintaining intimacy. The iron lintels were a signature of Oberson that appeared in several other projects and were integrated into the carpentry that was entirely designed in the office. The carpentry combined black iron and orangish teak veneer, creating a unique contrast with the light resin floor. The separation between the family room and the living room was designed as a library that included some of the clients’ art collection and passed through it. The integration of the stainless steel refrigerator in the facades highlighted the loose edges of the design that allowed the space to change and age with the landlords.

The design of the villa drew inspiration from British rule, creating a connection between interior and exterior spaces without contrasts. The wide and large floor-to-ceiling windows allowed a continuous connection to the wide and covered balcony, and the eucalyptus tree next to the villa connected the inside and outside spaces seamlessly. The plan created a deep entrance between two wings, with the parking lot connecting to the pantry and almost closed kitchen to the right and a master bedroom with a wide window to the front garden to the left. The location of the bedroom allowed privacy from the rest of the house and the guest garden.

In conclusion, the contemporary colonial villa designed by Dana Oberson Architects Ltd in southern Israel presented a new interpretation of a sloping roof, creating a unique shine and presence in the landscape.