Architect Transforms Tel Aviv Apartment Into Elegant Vacation Home for Foreign Residents

A Tel Aviv apartment in the iconic "Golda on the Park" complex, originally designed by architect Yaakov Rechter, has been renovated into a stylish and timeless vacation home for foreign residents. Located near Dubnov Garden, the Tel Aviv Museum, the Performing Arts Center, the Cameri Theater, and courts, the complex offers amenities such as a swimming pool, spacious lobby, and lawn for residents. The owners, a family living abroad, wanted to convert their three-bedroom family apartment into a warm and elegant retreat for their visits to Israel.

Architect Dana Oberson faced the challenge of adapting the apartment’s complex architectural shell, characterized by sharp angles and unusual geometry inherited from Rechter’s design. Nearly every detail was custom-designed to create a cohesive aesthetic language that balances intimacy with refined style. The 165-square-meter apartment features a monochromatic palette of sand, stone, wood, and natural textiles, with large porcelain tile flooring and bespoke carpentry that aligns with the apartment’s challenging angles while providing storage and visual harmony.

The central open space integrates the kitchen, dining area, and living room, anchored by a large natural stone island that serves as a hub for cooking, dining, and socializing. A flexible dining area can be enclosed or opened with slatted glass partitions, allowing for either an intimate setting or a spacious, light-filled environment. Interior designer Ella Shlomov of ELLA DÉCOR created custom textiles including floor-to-ceiling curtains that soften the space and filter Tel Aviv’s bright sunlight.

The master suite continues the calm atmosphere with dark wood flooring, precise carpentry, and abundant natural light, doubling as a workspace for the owners during their stays. Throughout the apartment, the design maintains a balance between functionality and understated elegance, avoiding bold colors and emphasizing harmony among materials, furnishings, and art.

Oberson describes the project as a story of precise planning and design that transformed a complex architectural shell into an inviting home that offers the owners a sense of belonging whenever they return to Israel. She is currently launching a new design book, "House of Oberson: A Design Legacy," published by Rizzoli, featuring 23 selected projects from her studio, including private homes, hotels, commercial spaces, and offices.