An Innovative Residential Project Featuring Two Contemporary Buildings with a Restored, 1920’s Home Designed by Joseph Berlin Nestled in Between
Bar Orian Architects, a leading international architecture firm based in Israel and established by Tal and Gidi Bar Orian in 1990, today officially announces its work for Villa Rothschild, an architectural marvel situated along Tel Aviv’s namesake Rothschild Boulevard.
Villa Rothschild embodies the essence of modern architecture and urban design in Tel Aviv as a perfect example of how the past and present intertwine. The project’s two new buildings were designed as a reflection of one another and a juxtaposition to the Eclectic-era villa that is part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site for Bauhaus architecture-style buildings and sits between the contemporary structures. Together, the three buildings create an additional and contemporary layer in the urban fabric of Tel Aviv, and an example of the architectural development of the city’s new class of residential offerings.
The stunning project sits at 62, 64 and 66 Rothschild Boulevard, and consists of two distinctive seven-floor contemporary buildings that boast City Penthouses, a Fifth-Floor Villa and two Garden Villas, located in two buildings on both sides of the original villa known as “Beit Awad Villa,” a restored Joseph Berlin masterpiece from the early 20th-century. For the Awad family, Berlin designed a symmetrical house with elements of a classic Greek temple, complete with central pilasters, Cubist details, geometric lines and Hellenic elements. Villa Rothschild marks a distinct move away from the impersonal skyscrapers lining the area and offers a personalized and unparalleled living experience on the posh Rothschild Boulevard, Tel Aviv's most desired address. Several of the contemporary units also boast private pools, spacious decks overlooking the city and the Mediterranean Sea, while both buildings offer underground parking, a rarity in Tel Aviv.
The original Joseph Berlin building was marked for preservation with the strict limitations of Tel Aviv’s preservation plan and zoning policies. In accordance with municipal regulations, Bar Orian Architects were restricted from making any changes to the building apart from an addition on the basement floor, which caused no harm to the building’s original planning. In order to add the basement floor, the building was hung in the air by making temporary piles and through basement casting and foundation.
In contrast to the prevailing notion of painting the buildings in the Eclectic architecture-style – colorful colors and different tones for cornices, framework and carpentry – the architects decided to “dip” the entire building in a bright and non-characteristic color. This move allows the building to connect to the city’s modernist style, as well as somewhat neutralizing the kitschy aspect of 1920’s “dream houses.
After casting the basement, Bar Orian Architects connected the existing villa to the new basement floor via an additional stairwell to the primary stairwell. In contrast to the new stairwells, which are welded from minimalistic black-steel material, the splendid primary stairwell preserves all the property’s design elements: the wooden railing was cleaned and painted anew; the terrazzo stairs were polished; the original mail-boxes were returned to their place, and the wall paintings were documented and restored.
Alongside the meticulous reconstruction of many of the villa’s design elements, each of the building’s systems are among the newest and most state-of-the-art. The integration of the preserved building with the interior design of the new buildings create an opportunity to connect the past and present of Tel Aviv. Between traditional building materials and original wall paintings and modern architecture that relies on principles from the past, Villa Rothschild creates a new design statement that contributes to the spirit of the time.
“You can’t just destroy the old and build new,” says Gidi Bar Orian. “There is value to each of the project’s new buildings as they sit and overlook the Eclectic-style building.
Residents of Villa Rothschild are treated to a discreet and catered lifestyle with a sophisticated community of neighbors, 24/7 doorman security, private parking lot in heart of the city, concierge services including taxis, laundry, restaurant and theater reservations, and location in the core of Tel Aviv's culinary, shopping, nightlife and art epicenter. With a tip of the hat to the baron's legacy, residents also have their own private space in the building's climate-controlled wine cellar.
