In a settlement in the center of the country, facing an open view of a wadi and green nature, interior designer Lee Azriel planned and designed a two-family house for a family of five, a couple of parents and three sons aged 14, 12 and 7. The house, which has an area of approximately 260 square meters, sits on a rectangular plot of approximately 420 square meters, and underwent a massive renovation that included a significant expansion, the addition of a new residential floor and a redesign of the interior layout
.Ofri Paz | STANNEL
The original house, built about 25 years ago, had only one floor and four rooms, and was no longer suitable for the needs of a growing family. The bedrooms and bathroom faced directly into the living room, the openings were small, and the view to the outside was limited. As part of the renovation, which took about a year and required permits and engineering planning, the house was re-laid out over four levels: an open ground floor connecting the kitchen, dining area, and living room; a second level including a study and family space; a master suite with a balcony on the third floor; and an upper floor dedicated to the children, with three bedrooms, a shared bathroom, and a balcony. In addition, an outdoor living unit was also incorporated into the lot.
The starting point for the design was the desire to create a home that could accommodate the family’s daily life, but also their open and social lifestyle. “The requirements were to create a private area for the three boys, on a separate floor from the parents’ floor, a spacious kitchen that would function as the home’s dog, and various entertaining areas throughout the house,” says Azriel. “As a family that loves to entertain, the dining area was designed so that it could expand and accommodate a large number of guests, as part of a lifestyle where entertaining is a natural continuation of everyday life. It was also important to create plenty of storage, especially in the entrance.”
One of the significant challenges in the project was the existing structure, which had three supporting columns at its center. In order to open up the space and improve the sense of space, two of them were removed and two beams were added in their place. At the same time, one of the main characteristics of the original house was preserved, high ceilings in the public space. “The original house was characterized by high ceilings in the central space, an element that was important to preserve and enhance even within the new design,” explains Azriel. “Accordingly, the new spaces were also built while ensuring continuity of height, light, and spatial breathing.”
The ground floor was designed as an open space, but one that creates different and clear living areas. The kitchen area was the only one that remained in place, while the living room was relocated and an impressive dining area was added facing the courtyard. The living room is located in the inner part of the space, thus creating a more intimate area for family gatherings, alongside an open and flowing entertaining space. Large, integral joinery was incorporated into the entrance to the house, designed to store the household’s extensive equipment and maintain a sense of order and calm from the very first moment.
The material language of the house is based on a natural and restrained palette. Exposed concrete, shades of gray and concrete colors form the base, and alongside them are incorporated black iron and natural wood-colored joinery. “The basic palette is based on natural materials and colors,” describes Azriel. “Exposed concrete and concrete and gray colors are the base of the house, and are immersed in black iron and natural wood-colored joinery.” Concrete-reinforced walls add a textural layer and connect raw materiality with a sense of openness and ventilation. Mid-Century Modern furniture pieces were incorporated into this language, which bring depth, warmth and a timeless touch to the space, without overloading it.
At the center of the house stands a dominant black steel staircase, connecting the four levels and emphasizing the vertical nature of the building. A woven light fixture descends from above, softening the raw materiality and introducing a warmer, more natural layer into the space. The dominant concrete wall in the central space gives the house a quiet yet powerful presence, while the natural light, which changes throughout the day, creates plays of shadow, depth, and texture on it.
The master suite opens onto the wadi view, continuing the quiet language of the home with high ceilings, natural materials and an open and airy feel. The master bathroom was designed as a quiet and minimalist space, almost detached from everyday life. The relatively dark color palette reinforces the intimate and calm feeling, while a large floor-to-ceiling window brings in soft and changing natural light. A slatted wall was built on its exterior, filtering the light and allowing privacy without sacrificing a sense of openness.
The children’s floor was designed as an independent and separate area, appropriate to the boys’ age and their growing need for privacy. “The rooms were designed with the idea of creating a sense of privacy and quiet,” says Azriel, “both in relation to the other spaces in the house and facing the street and the external environment.” The design of the openings and openings allows the rooms to enjoy natural light and ventilation, along with a sense of intimacy and protection. Inside each of the rooms, carpentry was incorporated in a personalized design, which provides a response to the changing needs of storage, study and daily use, while maintaining a uniform and clean language. The carpentry was designed as an integral part of the space, allowing the rooms to feel organized, spacious and pleasant.
The outdoor area was also designed in accordance with the family’s current stage of life. Since the children are already relatively old, it was decided to forgo a traditional lawn in favor of a yard that is more suited to entertaining, leisure, and spending time together. In its place, a pool was designed, which became one of the central elements of the house’s outdoor experience and continues the general line of the project: a family home that balances privacy with entertaining, between raw materiality and softness, and between an existing 25-year-old structure and a new life built around it.
Planning and design |Lee AzrielPhotography |Shiran CarmelAbout the firm |Lee Azriel
Lee Azriel’s independent design office was established in 2022, and deals with the planning and design of apartments and private houses, with an emphasis on private residential projects, houses, apartments and large-scale renovations. Many of her projects involve structural changes and redesign of existing spaces, out of an interest in planning complexity and the possibility of creating a home that is truly tailored to the person who lives in it. “I am particularly interested in working with existing buildings and examining how you can take something that exists and give it new life, without erasing its original character,” she says. She defines her design language as one that ranges between warm minimalism and raw, architectural materiality. “I try to create homes that feel timeless – not ones that rely on trends, but spaces that have peace, substance, good proportions and a real sense of life. I am very attracted to clean and quiet spaces, but ones that have depth, texture and presence.” For Azriel, materiality is not just part of the appearance of the home, but of the way it is experienced on a daily basis: “For me, material is not just an aesthetic finish but part of the experience of the space. It is important to me to create a sense of flow and breathing within the home.”
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Where design meets lifestyle
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Where design meets lifestyle
Where design meets lifestyle
