The Sofia – Sea of Galilee hotel by Levin Packer Architects seamlessly incorporates the elegance and history of an ancient Ottoman basalt stone building into a grand 120 room luxury hotel and spa destination overlooking the Sea of Galilee in Tiberias.
From the outset, the design brief called for the preservation of the original structure, so a minimalist design system was invoked. In terms of structural form, this meant maintaining fidelity to original proportions, and in terms of decorative form, this meant preserving materiality: restoring original floor tiles, basalt stones, and pillars, and retaining the overall material pattern of the space.
Built in the late 19th century for a wealthy family and later used for government functions, the original two-storey building featured a ground floor commercial space and an upstairs living space. The ground floor now, as then, receives guests, reimagined as the hotel entrance lobby. Grand archways function as portals to the past and lend a historical gravitas. The only new material added is brass, which was chosen not to compete with, but rather to underscore and add richness to the dark basalt and cool tiles.
Above the lobby, the original living quarters have been transformed into a boutique spa offering guests an authentic Turkish bath experience. The spa’s relaxation areas include a sauna, treatment rooms and a traditional hammam. The reception area of the spa is delineated from wellness functions by a double-sided cabinet so as not to obfuscate the original basalt wall.
Original Carrara marble pillars decorate the reception area and in the wellness areas beyond (which form part of the new building), a similar type of marble is used to iterate on the original form. Other elements such as painted Damascus tiles are also used to invoke a sense of continuity between the old and new spaces and retain the essence of the architecture’s rich history.
The excavation process itself unexpectedly informed the design. Original tiles unearthed on the site bore the seal of Damascus on their undersides. The seal told the story of the region during the Ottoman Empire when it was a bustling trade centre. These tiles were restored and installed as flooring in the lobby.
The rest of the hotel functions, including a kosher dining room, coffee and wine bar, conference halls and guest rooms are all located in the new building, which has the impression of riding above the original building. The new volume is minimalist, using simple lines and neutral materials in order to show appropriate reverence to the ancient building it extends on.
The space between the old and new buildings is occupied by the hotel’s lounge. The 11 m high space offers dramatic views across to the original façade. This space was conceived as an inner garden experience, enriched by black basalt, dressed limestone lintels, and decorative railings. The dining room also follows a clean and simple design, with hanging black stainless-steel nets acting as spatial dividers. These conceptual nets hark to the history of the Sea of Galilee as an important hub for fishing, the traditional lifeblood of Tiberias. The overall effect is of a fully modern, luxurious escape destination functioning as an extension of the original building but in a manner that emphasises and showcases the grandeur of its rich architectural and cultural origins.
