Architect Designs Mountain Resort-Inspired Villa in Galilee for Family of Six
Architect Shadi Daher of CHEZ CHADI designed a unique villa in Deir Hanna, Lower Galilee, inspired by international luxury resorts in Dubai and Thailand. The home was created for a couple with four children (two sets of twins) accustomed to traveling the world and staying in high-end hotels. Their request was to bring the resort experience into their private residence, located on a mountainside near the Sea of Galilee.
The villa features an unconventional layout with the entrance on the upper floor and the main family living and entertaining areas on the lower floor, which opens to panoramic views. Daher emphasized a bright, soft environment for the social spaces, contrasting with the darker tones of the private living floors. The design integrates the surrounding green mountains into the architecture through sculptural steel structures covered with durable wavy material, creating organic, layered "mountains" inside and outside that blur the boundary between nature and building.
The lower level was rebuilt to accommodate large family gatherings while maintaining intimacy, offering multiple seating areas both indoors and outdoors with different atmospheres. A central feature is a functional gallery-style kitchen with a wide island and long cabinet wall, ideal for hosting. An outdoor kitchen under a bamboo ceiling provides a warm, protected space for cooking and dining al fresco.
The 13-meter pool includes a shallow wading area designed for sitting and socializing in the water, enhancing the living experience rather than just visual appeal. The material palette is limited to Taj Mahal stone, wood, and aluminum, creating a clean, elegant backdrop that highlights natural light and views. The outdoor spaces cover about half a dunam (approximately 500 square meters), balancing scale with a relaxed, intimate feel.
Daher describes the project as more than beautiful spaces; it is about crafting a living experience where a globally traveling family feels rooted and eager to stay home in Israel. The villa combines luxury resort elements with a deep connection to its natural setting and family life.
