Architect Preserves Old Home's Character in Major Renovation

A couple seeking a home with history and character opted to renovate rather than demolish an existing house in Re'ut-Maccabim, Israel. The original 800-square-meter trapezoidal plot presented challenges with small, unusable yard strips surrounding the house, which was built in split levels with a low, cramped public space. The owners, a photographer and a tech professional who moved from Modi'in, desired a sense of space, nature, and quality of life without a sterile, new build.

Architect Ron Spiegel embraced the challenge, deciding not to fight the existing structure but to understand and preserve its strengths. The renovation, lasting about a year, involved dismantling roughly half the house and reconfiguring its internal hierarchy. A key challenge was adjusting the home's height, which could have led to costly engineering solutions. The original low-ceilinged living room and kitchen in the front were converted into bedrooms.

The new, high-volume public space, encompassing the living room, kitchen, and dining area, was moved to the rear of the property, allowing for a direct connection to the largest part of the yard. This shift also repositioned the home's center of gravity. The entrance was also relocated, now approached via a terraced, illuminated pathway leading to a nearly seven-meter-high front door, creating a gradual transition from street to home.

Inside, the central space begins at six meters high, descending to three, with sloped wooden beams emphasizing the ceiling's movement and windows offering views in nearly every direction. The kitchen, designed for modern living, features a large window and garden access, with a hidden pantry behind tall cabinets. The split levels were cleverly utilized to separate living areas without isolating occupants; the parents' suite is half a floor above the public space, while the children's rooms are half a floor below, maintaining privacy yet proximity.

A new basement level was excavated beneath the public space, housing a safe room, play area, and cinema, featuring acoustic treatment and upholstery for a distinct, enclosed feel. Natural materials like bleached wood ceilings and floors, along with Sahara, coffee, and rough white tones, create a calm base, softened by round light fixtures. Exterior materials include rust-colored metal that ages with the house, reflecting the philosophy of embracing time and layers. The rear yard was transformed into a triple-sided courtyard with a pool featuring a hydraulic cover, an outdoor living room, dining area, and a wide outdoor kitchen.