A1- Collector’s Apartment-Vintage & Art

Amit Geron

• Architects

This apartment designed by architect Raz Melamed facing the sea is a well-designed combination of peace of mind and a feast for the eyes.
The couple who purchased this magnificent high-rise apartment came to Melamed's office before it was built and asked him to build their family the house of their dreams. The designplan included master suites for the parents and children, an open living and hosting space, a TV corner separate from the living room, and a utility room.
Before the construction, the clients presented their requests: the first - a space suitable for displaying unique art, since they are art collectors with pieces from Israel and abroad. The second - use of natural materials throughout the whole space. Lastly, the couple requested to maintain minimalism in every detail, large and small.

At the beginning, Melamed worked with the building's architect for changes that were required during the construction phase: for example, aluminium partitions were eliminated to create continuous glazing, a signature Melamed design. Melamed plans large openings that bring the outside in and create a spectacular frame for optimal light passage.

The customers have extensive knowledge of the modern design of the 1950s, and most of the iconic furniture and lighting items were purchased abroad, as originals designed by the founding fathers of modernism. At the same time, contemporary art was commissioned from well-known artists, such as Nir Hod, who made works according to a given size, and thus a strict and precise combination of contemporary and modern design.

The flooring is natural stone and serves as a neutral background for the design: there is a complete separation between the public and the private, when it was clear that the public would face the west because of the balcony and the sea, and that the private would be modest and separated from the entrance, which is hidden from the living room.
The kitchen is dominated by a matte stainless-steel island, made of one piece without connections, a sign of high-level minimalism. Next to it, a constructive column is wrapped in shiny stainless steel, and the city is reflected in it in a panoramic view. It has a tall white front where a wine refrigerator, ovens, and pocket doors are placed that hide electrical appliances and a work surface and contribute to the kitchen's clean appearance- quite literally.

Adjacent to the contemporary kitchen is the modern Japanese handmade dining area, with typical wooden fasteners in carpentry. It is surrounded by matching chairs with black upholstery, and above it is mesmerizing black lighting by Serge Mouille, a French designer who created this icon in the 20th century. On the wall between her and the living room is a black and white photograph that takes us back to an earlier period.
The living room boasts an exposed concrete wall, made of custom-made panels with holes that were pre-planned during the tower's construction phase, as part of the skeleton work of the tower's contractor.
The living room is defined by a carpet and has a contemporary sofa, modern armchairs and the living room tables in the same language and is illuminated by a standing light fixture from the same period. In the center of the concrete stands a walnut tree that echoes the dining area and the geometry of the flooring.

In front of the living room is a balcony overlooking the sea with airy furniture in the colors of the house. It is minimally decorated with an olive tree whose branches have been carefully trimmed, which will be placed inside a stainless steel planter. The windows are dressed with roll-up curtains that detach from the ceiling, which keep a clean key when closing them, and accompany them with sunshades inside the glazing for protection from the western sun.
The lighting was custom designed and is adjustable in the ceiling in order to illuminate furniture, create an atmosphere and create division into areas. In the concrete wall in the living room, a wash lighting was chosen that highlights its unique nature.

The ceiling is white and free of decorations, and air conditioning outlets have been planted in it which also look like lighting strips for a meticulous aesthetic appearance.
On the way to the parents' suite, there is the TV corner, where the concrete slab wall returns as it appears in the living room. In spite of its small size, Melamed was not afraid to use dark colors and the result is an elegant and pleasant space, which is decorated with art in a stainless-steel look and shades of blue. The kitchen pantry speaks in the natural language and combines a black stone slab cladding and dark wood facades.

The master suite received an unparalleled treatment: the safety room was converted into a spacious closet, which serves the bedroom space that overlooks the city. When needed, the closet can be hidden by a gray curtain. The furniture is monochromatic and minimalist and sits on legs that emphasize the sense of space. Above the bed is hung art that adds a splash of color that echoes the shades of the reflected sea from the apartment.

The bathroom repeats the minimalist motif with continuity in the flooring and a design that features minimal cuts and joints in the stone. The sink cabinet is made of floating white Corian, with the mirror above it placed in a niche in the wall, thus also strengthening the clean line.

In the guest bathroom, two carpentry units were installed for the sink and for storage, which create both practicality and a young and innovative design.
This is evident not only in the guest services but in the entire apartment which proves that colorful richness is not necessary for a spectacular design. In fact, it is precisely thanks to minimalism, monochromatic materiality and iconic items, that a young and cool design of a living and kicking home was born.