Interior Designer Revitalizes Historic Jaffa Flea Market Building Into Creative Hub

Interior designer and home stylist Orel Katz has transformed an ancient stone building in Jaffa's Flea Market from a neglected horse stable and warehouse into a vibrant living and creative space. The building, dating back to the Ottoman period, was carefully restored over a year with a budget of about one million shekels. Katz preserved the original stone arches and walls, exposing the authentic materials while adapting the space for modern living, including adding a kitchen, gallery, bathroom, and shower.

Katz, 32, who draws inspiration from Jaffa's alleys, architecture, and vintage market finds, describes the building as more than a home; it is a place for creation, meetings, ideas, and community. The 240-square-meter two-story structure now serves as his residence, a venue for events called The Temple Jaffa, and a base for his other businesses in the market, including an art gallery, furniture store, and bar-restaurant.

The design emphasizes an authentic Jaffa tribal style that reflects the city's history and multicultural character, maintaining a sense of openness and freedom by minimizing walls and partitions. Katz personally sources and refurbishes many of the furnishings from the flea market, blending natural materials and local cultural elements. The gallery floor, accessed via a Moroccan-style staircase, overlooks the main space and continues the minimalist yet spacious aesthetic.

Katz views the restoration as a labor of love and patience, aiming to revive the building's soul rather than reinvent it. He expresses pride in preserving the historic spirit while making the space functional and welcoming. In light of recent hardships faced by Jaffa's creative community due to conflict, Katz is committed to contributing to the area's revival through his entrepreneurial efforts and cultural engagement.