HomeResidential ArchitectureRenovation ProjectsReflection House - Preservation of an Old Stone House

Reflection House – Preservation of an Old Stone House

Stone House preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel (2)

Project: Reflection House
Studio: Henkin Shavit Studio
Designers: Henkin Irit & Shavit Zohar
Photographer: Asaf Pinchuk
Location: Safed, Israel
Area: 150 sqm
Year: 2015

The Reflection House is a project completed in 2015 by Henkin Shavit Studio. This old stone house is located in the city of Safed, Israel and it is representative for the combination of preservation and modernization.

The architect’s description: A residential private house for preservation that has been re-designed and planed anew in the old city of Safed. The web of crowded housing of old stone buildings in the old quarter of Safed is a complex context dictating a dialogue between the old and the new, between preservation and renewal and between the traditional and the trendy.

preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel by HENKIN SHAVIT Architecture & Design (5)

The residence is an old stone house, built in the shape of the Hebrew letter “Chet” , surrounding and inner courtyard. In its original layout, it contains five levels: the wine cellar level, 3 residential levels and the upper level – balconies and outer spaces.

Stone House preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel (1)The planning concept included values of both preservation and renewal, while connecting between the inner and the outer and between the public and the private. The courtyard, which is an outer space, serves the function of a public space in the new house and the peripheral spaces function as the private spaces of the new house.

Stone House preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel (3)The Designers, Henkin Irit & Shavit Zohar started the project s with the complex stage of documentation and getting acquainted with the various formative and material aspects of the site after carrying out a comprehensive stage of exposing the site. Stone walls, arches, stone niches and impressive water well were all exposed at this stage. After this stage, the plan and the different sections were consolidated.

Stone House preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel (4)

The Reflection House has an impressive vertical section and a light steel and wood bridge connects the two masses adjacent to the public space. This bridge corresponds with an original flight of stairs, which dictates the vertical circulation. “The design of the house presents the old via original lime-stones, arches, vaults and niches, while the new gets represented by materials such as concrete, mosaics, steel and tin threshing, as well as transparent and semi-transparent glass”, Henkin Shavit .

Stone House preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel (5)

The Reflection House program includes a kitchen, salon and a dining corner on ground level. The cellar level contains storage place and a space for the landlords’ grandchildren to play in. The middle level contains a hosting unit + a toilet and a shower. In the upper level there is a sleeping and working area with attached bathroom and toilet. This space is made up of a bridge leading to the different two wings, which are also attached with balconies and outer spaces. The upper level consists of a big balcony overlooking a magnificent view of the surroundings in general and Mt. Meron in particular.

preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel by HENKIN SHAVIT Architecture & Design (1)

preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel by HENKIN SHAVIT Architecture & Design (2)

preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel by HENKIN SHAVIT Architecture & Design (3)

preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel by HENKIN SHAVIT Architecture & Design (4)

preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel by HENKIN SHAVIT Architecture & Design (6)

preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel by HENKIN SHAVIT Architecture & Design (7)

preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel by HENKIN SHAVIT Architecture & Design (10)

Stone House preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel (10)

preservation and renewal of an old house in Israel by HENKIN SHAVIT Architecture & Design (13)

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