The aesthetic of light and Mediterranean sunshine and the minimalist discipline of line and plane. Those were Irit Axelrod's guiding principles when designing Afeka House in the vicinity of Tel Aviv.
Axelrod Design, Irit Axelrod's architecture and design studio with offices in Tel Aviv and Los Angeles, was commissioned to design a modern family home combining the warmth of the Mediterranean with the taut lines and planes of minimalism. In her design, Axelrod opted to use concrete as the basic material which she dashingly moulded into shape: the horizontal planes define the spaces and the vertical planes accentuate the axes of the house. The linear severity is reinforced by the crisp lines formed by a neat progression of chairs, tables and sofas. She has chosen furnishings from the collections of B&B Italia, Cassina, Moooi and MDF; for the kitchen Boffi, and lighting by Ingo Maurer. It might seem like a recipe for coldness, but Irit Axelrod has taken rigorous steps to avoid that. She has incorporated large expanses of windows in her design, adding sunblinds that conjure up long shadows on the grey and white floors and walls. The light makes for a gentle ambience evocative of the Mediterranean. In addition, she has subtly drawn the garden and the pool into the interior, by designing a large glass façade reaching from the floor almost to the ceiling and stretching almost nine metres along one of the long sides of the house. The window can be rolled back in its entirety, meaning that interior and exterior literally form one space. In other places she has designed long narrow vertical windows which appear to frame the view and accentuate the space indoors.
The layout of the house, with a total floor area of some 750 square metres, is defined by two axes. One runs lengthwise through the open living area and into the open kitchen, the other is at right angles to the long axis. The second axis connects the front door with the staircase. A long skylight extending the full length of the roof echoes the longitudinal axis. Inside, the architect has accommodated six bedrooms. The master bedroom is situated on a mezzanine floor and gives the impression of floating within the house. A floor slab extending outwards and large windows suggest a weightlessness that contrasts with the tautness of the design. In addition to three children's rooms, the house has a further two bedrooms for guests. The house itself has been designed with great care, but so too have the surrounding gardens with sun decks and reflecting pools.
Robyn Prince
