location: Tel Aviv, Israel | architecture: Metropole Architects – Nigel Tarboton | project manager: Binom Ltd – Oded Ben-Ari | main contractor: Hajaj Ltd – Mustafa Taha | landscape design: Riki Sadeh | lighting design: Orly Avron Alkabes | photography: Grant Pitcher
KZN-based Metropole Architects have recently completed this contemporary family home on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. The project represents the crowning achievement of a successful international collaboration between an Israeli client and project manager, an Arab-Israeli contractor, a Russian-Israeli engineer and a South African architect.
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- The main vehicle and pedestrian entrance is a composition of natural stone, off shutter concrete and transparent aluminium screens designed to provide the optimum degree of privacy from the road.
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- A freestanding gazebo that is used for various family functions projects over the secondary parking and arrival area.
Designed and developed by Metropole Architects in Durban, the logistical challenge posed by international work was effectively managed by means of intermittent site visits, regular video conference calls, and a remotely controlled webcam mounted on site. This latter provided a virtual ‘man on the ground’ and enabled the architects to monitor progress on site at all times from South Africa. The further challenges presented by the language and contextual differences were overcome by a collective spirit of mutual respect between the members of the team, which developed naturally as the project progressed.
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- The strong geometric forms of the architecture invoke significant presence from the street. Again, the corner aluminium screens provide necessary privacy, without compromising the view of downtown Tel Aviv.
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- Water, lighting and the dynamic architectural form work in harmony to enhance the dramatic twilight experience of this structure.
Says architect Nigel Tarboton: ‘With breathtaking vistas of downtown Tel Aviv to the west, and the spectacle of distant aircrafts ascending silently out of Ben Gurion International airport to the south, the 200-metre long rectilinear site presented amazing opportunities for a modern luxury home.
‘The architecture of the dwelling is delineated by multiple layers of cantilevered horizontal planes, starting with the flat roof plane of the main house, and cascading down to the first-floor slab, carport pergola, freestanding gazebo and other cantilevered beams. This composition of floating planes is intended to create a sense of movement down the longitudinal axis of the site.
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- The double volume space over the dining room allows warm late afternoon light to flood into the internal living area on the ground floor.
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- The open plan living space includes: lounge, dining room and kitchen, and opens onto the swimming pool via expansive glazed timber sliding doors.
‘One of the most powerful and evocative experiential qualities of the site is that the setting sun seems to linger for an eternity before finally withdrawing behind the silhouette of downtown Tel Aviv’s evolving skyline.
‘It was of critical importance that the outstanding quality of the natural light – as well as the play of light and shadow – was integrated as a fundamental design consideration. The architectural form of the house is accentuated by this fluctuation throughout the course of the day, in a symphony of built form influenced by solar illumination. The large areas of glazing, as well as the considered design and placement of openings and screens – combined with the spacious volumes of the interior rooms – all contribute to the architecture’s ability to capture the spectacular natural light.’
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- Filtered natural light enters the spacious main en suite bathroom through full height corner glazing. Indirect architectural lighting has been employed extensively throughout the home.
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- The entire unsupported corner of the master bedroom suite opens up to the distant views of downtown Tel Aviv.
Of equal importance, due to the hot and humid Middle Eastern climate, was the design’s ability to take advantage of the pleasant breeze coming off the Mediterranean ocean from the west, and filter it throughout the structure in order to create a comfortable living environment.
For the full article see Habitat #260 July / August 2017 | Subscribe now
