Name> Noemi Givon
Occupation>  Manages an art gallery and represents artists since 1974
Residence> Tel Aviv
Book> All the books by Donald Woods Winnicott. “He was an English child psychiatrist, pediatrician, and psychoanalyst, continued the way of Sigmund Freud and Melanie Klein. He developed play therapy for children and wrote several books, however, he expressed that his writings are original ideas and deviate from theory of Freud”.
Food> Lobster and Lamb chops
City> Paris
Building> Ben Gurion’s and Ayala Zacks’ houses

Noemi and her son Ben, live in Neve Tzedek, in a home that has been around originally since the 19^th century.  After 10 years of restoration and renovations planned and made by the architect Ori Glazer, they were able to move in, and have been happily living there now for one year.

To grasp an ideal image of the success of this renovation, photos of the home in broad daylight have been included, highlighting every accent of the house. Next post will contain photos of the home to capture the elements right as night falls.

The structure reflects the classic construction of Jaffa, built of stone baring walls and ceilings made from limestone and flat arches of brick and galvanized steel. Its design reflects common residential typology of the urban middle class in Israel and Lebanon from the late 19^th century to the early 30^th century.

The facade of the original building was preserved accurately, and there were some other remains, such as the floor and parts of columns, that Neomi was able to keep. However, there were alterations to the interior to enhance the style and practicality. Each floor contains three large open spaces, which function also for an exhibition. With modular and dynamic walls, which are based on an axis, the residents have the opportunity to change the room division, as they like. These areas will be broad enough to accommodate events in a variety of mediums such as; sculpture, video, installation, architecture, painting, drawing, and new media.

The design reflects the resident’s passions for original Israeli art and mythological design objects by artists such as Mario Botta and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and custom made Venetian lamps and Ben’s skateboards.

Name> Alma Mia Hadas
Occupation> Bartender
Residence> Tel Aviv
Book> Fine Balance by Rohinton Misty
Food> Sushi
City> Haifa and Gush Dan Suburbs
Building> Ein Harod Musuem by architect Samuel Bickels

Alma lives in Jaffa, with her cat Clementine. Her home was originally built and used for a coffee factory owned by a Bulgarian family. When Alma entered the place, three years ago, it was a semi dump. She refurbished and repaired the house gradually until it reached its current design and spirit.

The loft has a main floor and a gallery, covered with various items including impressive Alma’s art work. The living room walls have their own distinct pattern, revealing the remnants of the original wall paintings that were not preserved as well as other homes in the area. This design element creates a very original and unique feel to the home. The house, located on a street level, however manage to create its own quiet microcosmos.

Name> Orit Haviv
Occupation> Artist, painter
Book> Magic and Deceit by Eran Bar Gil. “I read this book recently, and it made me cry”.

Dish> Fresh vegetables with oil and salt
City> Tel Aviv is my favorite city, mainly because I live there so I know it inside out and it makes me feel at home. San Francisco is another city I love. Even though it will never be my home, I think it’s the perfect city with spectacular natural embraces.
Building> Shalom Meir Tower, Tel Aviv

Orit Haviv is a painter and a passionate owner of her own gallery and studio in the center of Tel Aviv, displaying artwork of emerging artists and designers.

Her home in Jaffa, whom she shares with her partner and beautiful daughter, is quite unique, challenging the typical concept of a house. There are several intimate corners throughout the space, even in the most spacious of rooms. The design is dynamic and timeless, avoiding the connection to a specific time frame. Given the open space, there is a lot of freedom to rearrange the furniture in multiple ways, adding character to the home’s design.

Although she likes to maintain a simple and humble feel, Orit enjoys mixing and matching styles and combining old with new. The crisp white walls are clear from art and decoration. Orit says, “I love white walls, the shadows and ray of lights, create minimalistic drawings on the wall, it excites me every time”. The foundation materials are a consistent combination of wood, concrete, and corten steel, surrounded by natural plants which play a role collaborating with the original architecture.

Name> Irit Kohavi
Occupation> Architect and Founder of IK Architects office in Tel Aviv
Residence> Tel Aviv
Book> A week at the airport: A Heathrow diary by Alain De Bottom. ”Being airport designer during the last 15 years, I am fascinated with a space affording one to experience a different quality of time” says Irit Kohavi.

Dish> Fresh vegetables
City> Jerusalem. ”Having the opportunity to plan in Jerusalem for 25 years, taking part in the design of the Yad Vashem museum complex, Mamilla district and hotels, and more, as principal architect and partner to Moshe Safdie, I am connected to the unique coexistence of the old and contemporary in the city”.
Building> Rockefeller Museum , Jerusalem. When I enter the beautiful patios or the tall round meeting room, the piece comes to my mind, and the beauty floats all over

The architecture of Irit Kohavi has been publicly displayed over 25 years, and this time, in this unique opportunity, the house overlooking the mountains is revealed as one of Irit’s more private works.

Facing the valley of Halilim, the unique family house was completed in 2002.

The house is hidden from the street, providing modest privacy to the life inside it, cascading down to the valley. The natural view penetrates throughout the perforated structure.

Sun beams radiate shadows over the stepping stairs and lower interior levels, creating different patterns, and almost a separate architecture of its own, consisting of circulation and movements of the changing sunlight.

The twelve meter high interior patio, naturally lit by south facing linear skylights, contains an open airy feel, while bridges link each of the common family spaces and private wings.

The use of local natural stone, exposed concrete, and steel in their bare existence, is a major design statement in this structure. The exceptional richness of detailing, led the natural light to play a significant role in the design of this minimalist harmonic space.

Irit Kohavi Architects office, specializes in a mix of projects including; commercial buildings, offices, airport terminals, and residential spaces.

Name> Dan Bronfeld
Occupation> Film Director
Residence> Tel Aviv
Book> Elementary Particles by Michel Houellebecq
Dish> Fish
Building> The Barcelona Pavilion by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Dan, a young, charming and talented film director, recently moved to a beautiful place in Florentine after living in Jerusalem, where he had been studying at Bezalel.

His house is warm and sensitive, reflecting his personality. His collection of objects from his travels and work each tell a different story; a passion for architecture, photography, sculpture and design.

The place, which was renovated by his friend, shows the vast changes in which Florentine has gone through in the last 10 years. Originally, the area was populated by workers and crafts men, however nowadays there is a variety of people living there and the area is changing rapidly.

Name> Yehoshua and Ruthi Yeshua
Occupation> Yehoshua is a professor of french literature and Ruthie is a real estate agent
Residence> Jerusalem
Dish> Pasta
City> Venice
Building> Musée de Cluny, Paris and Tabor house, Jerusalem by the architect Conard Shick

Joshua and Ruti Yehushua Live in Nachla’ot, Jerusalem.

Their house was built around 1860 by the Ottomans. It was preserved about a decade ago by the architect Shay Ofer in a conservative fashion adhering to the original structure and design, though the second floor is late addition, keeping the original style.

Both Joshua and Ruti have lived in Jerusalem for many decades and are involved in the city’s cultural life.

The interior design is assembled by numerous eclectic objects collected by the couple over the years. Some of the objects, such as the book library, the marble tables in the kitchen and the living room, were custom made. Others are classic pieces by Eames, Mies van dar Rohe, Vitra and others.

On each of my visits to the Yehushua’s home the house was always full of family and friends. The couple enjoys entertaining and having a lot going on around them. The house manifests their passions and creativity, their interests, their love of art, food, music and history. All these come together in a magical harmonious unit.

Name> Yaffa Braverman
Occupation> Owner and Director of Braverman Gallery
Residence> Tel Aviv
Book> The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand and The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years by Chinghiz Atimatov
Dish> Contemporary food
City> Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu and Vienna
Building>Villa Fuchs in Vienna by the architect Auto Wagner

After living for a considerable amount of time in Europe and the United States, Yaffa returned to Israel and established Braverman Gallery for Contemporary Art in 2004. She specializes in emerging and young established artists, mostly Israeli, whom she promotes in the international art scene. This year Gilad Ratman, one of her artists, was chosen to represent Israel at the Venice Biennial.

Recently relocated to Tel Aviv, Yaffa lives in the center of the city, not far from the gallery. Her apartment is in a preserved building planned by Emanuel Helbrecht and erected in 1936-8. The building’s was conserved and completed in 2012 by Nitza Smuk.

Yaffa wanted to keep the interior design clean, light, and simple. As such furniture and objects are a careful fusion of modernist and vintage. The latter readjusted to fit with the whole look and feel of the space. Her sense of adventure is manifested in the many pieces of art strewn around the flat.

The roof top has original furniture that Yaffa designed and manufactured in collaboration with architect Omer Gura.

Name> Irit Strauss
Occupation> Owner of Alma Hotel, co-founder of Adi’s lifestyle
Residence> Herzliya
Book> The Map and the Territory by Michel Houellebecq
Building> Prada’s Flagship store, New York, by the architect Rem Koolhass
Dish> Anything with fish
City> New York and London

Alma Hotel is located on the corner of Yavne and Ehad Ha’am st. in central Tel Aviv. Recently conserved according to the concept of historic preservation, the building was originally designed by Dov Tashodnovski and built in 1923. The conservation and reconstruction was undertaken by Amnon Bar Or, and the interior designed by Ari Shaltiel. The original art works were selected and curated by Adi Gura.

The conservation is relatively stringent, keeping major features of the original structure, in particular windows, banisters, flooring and the wall paintings in the main passage areas. Individual rooms were given to a more personal interpretation.

The hotel is in keeping with a current trend in central Tel Aviv which has seen a significant number of buildings acquired by real-estate groups and transformed into exclusive boutique hotels. Catering for the business community and the luxury travel sector, this orientation, which has been rife for the past decade, is changing the face of the city for better and for worse.

Careful attention was paid at Alma Hotel in selecting the exact objects and details. The hotel offers a stimulating experience aimed at a specific kind of traveler. Each room has its own theme combining different cultural facets inside one space. While the result might seem at times dense, it is nonetheless overwhelming and powerful.

Catering for the business community and the luxury travel sector, this orientation, which has been going on for the past decade, is changing the face of the city for better and worse. The level of investment is very high, with careful attention paid in selecting the right details. The hotel offers a stimulating experience aimed at a very specific kind of traveler. Each room has a theme bringing together different cultural facets in one space. While the result might seem dense, it is nevertheless total and powerful.

Name> Yasha Cyrinski
Occupation> Artist
Residence> Tel Aviv
Book> God is not Great by Christopher Hitchens
Dish> Most dishes in which, unlike quiche and pies, one can see the components we eat
City> Berlin
Building> Chemosphere, Los Angeles, by the architect John Lautner

Located in the east of Tel Aviv, Yasha’s studio overlooks the Ayalon highway. The Montefiore neighborhood, traditionally an area occupied by garages and other kinds of industrial properties has been steadily changing over the past years. The interior of Yasha’s studio, which used to be a small factory, is fabricated from wooden crates and other found objects and materials collected in the area. The idea was to retain the material rawness while maintaining unique details. The ideas Yasha had in mind evolved during the building process and are since in constant change.

Y: “In Israel it is essential for the space to also function as a mental shelter from the outside world.”

Y: “I am attracted to spaces which give you a sense of drama or mystery.”

Y: “Good spaces, like lofts, are those that can be converted to other purposes.”

Y: “I like to have a certain amount of chaos in the environment around my studio. I find fastidious order in the environment very unstimulating.”

Name> Alon Matos
Occupation> Architect
Residence> Tel Aviv
Book> Tzimaon (Thirst) by Shulamit Har Even
Building> The Jewish Agency, Kaplan Street, Tel Aviv
Dish> Carbs
City> Midresehet Ben Gurion, Sde Boker

Alon Matos is a young and charming architect, a great chef and Master of DIY. His house is located in Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv. The house was deserted for many years, and Alon renovated it by himself slowly but firmly, worked and shaped the little details, until it achieved a suitable living space. The house was built around 1917 by an unknown architect. Different tenants have resided in the house over the years, each family with their own memories, until Alon moved 3 years ago and gave the place its current spirit.

A: “This house excites me, perhaps its the circulation, the indoor/patio relations, or possibly the patine which is impossible to recreate.”

A: “I feel that there’s a mystical spirit in this house, it’s a magical island isolates me from the city. Nothing in the outside world matters anymore, at least for a moment or two”.