210sqm House, Jaffa
Photographs: Dor Kedmi
In the Ajami neighborhood of Jaffa, with its cobblestone alleys and Mediterranean architecture, the historical house is tucked away from street’s view.
The house, dating back to the 1880s, has a distinct Palladian influence in symmetry, proportions and front porticos. The house was designed as a grand residence with double- height ceilings, eolianite walls (Local calcareous sandstone) and a stucco exterior with decorative details.
The objective of the project was to reorganize the layout of the house to accommodate modern living and the changing family needs, while maintaining the historical character of the building.
The previous layout of the house included an elongated rectangle that ended in a dark kitchen and family dining area. The entrances to the three bedrooms and a single bathroom were from the main public space, thus making the public space a recurrent pathway.
One of the major changes implemented in the refitting was moving the kitchen area from the back side of the house. In its current location, the kitchen overlooks the garden and it is separated from the main trajectory of the house. Opening up the entrance to the kitchen area also allowed necessary natural light into the main space.
The kitchen was entirely replaced applying Walnut tree finishes to the new kitchen cabinetry, black veneer for the kitchen island and a Granite countertop.
Another major structural change to the house was incorporating a partial gallery floor into the high volume adding two compact bedrooms for the growing daughters. The Master bedroom was relocated into the northern room where a private shower was added, illuminated by natural light from a sizable window. In keeping with the original Italian Carrera marble of the living room, the floors of the western rooms were retiled with marble.
The new minimal blackened steel stairs were situated at the back of the main space, connecting the ground floor with the new gallery and creating a fresh perspective on the historical house and its unusual details.
The renovation of the historic house in Jaffa left the house its historic charm and character while modernising specific features and adjusting it to the current family needs
Designed by Salty Architects – Website | Instagram
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