The Romano residence is located on the northern part of Tel Aviv and sits on a small 3,500-foot lot. our client was a war veteran confined to a wheelchair for life. His basic requirements were two: to have an art studio in the basement and to be able to visualize the entire house from the master bedroom, where he was confined to  long periods of time.

The design concept was based on the creation of “a four-story high single space” that would allow a total perception of the house from any angle. A large skylight on the top and an open stairway (the house includes an elevator) made light penetration possible all the way down to the basement. The curving interior and exterior balconies facilitated movement with a wheelchair.

 

This house sits in Brentwood, on a 3/4-acre key-lot. It’s 2,400 square feet relate to the exterior all around, most of it with a canyon view.The site conditions demanded a 200-foot long retaining wall, which was turned into a color-concrete artwork designed by Ruth Meghiddo.

For energy-conservation reasons, the house’s openings do not exceed 16% of the floor area. In order to emphasize the indoor-outdoor relationship, a “theme” was conceived to visually connect different areas of the property, from the gate to the main entrance to the fire place to some some portions of the retaining wall. An imaginary “lap pool” made out of blue pebbles from Indonesia’s ocean was also designed.

 

When our clients, a couple of physicians with three children, bought this Brentwood property originally designed by architect Rex Lotery, the house was in total state of neglect. A complete remodeling was needed to accommodate the new owners’ needs.

In trying to keep with Lotery’s design spirit (who approved our design,) we limited changes on the floor plan as much as possible. The kitchen was expanded and remade. A new terrace cantilevered 15 feet was added next to the pool area and another one was created on the northern portion of the house. The house’s wood interior was totally bleached. An enclosed garage was created.

Over the bones of a 1930’s house, we expanded it and added a 1,400 square-foot studio in order to create a live-work environment. The energy-conscious design (the term “sustainability” had not yet been imported into the daily vocabulary.)

Completed in 1980, the design included solar water heating (first in Westwood) and an urban farm that fed us for most part of the year. Visited by 1,500 people in one day during the annual AIA Tour, it was published by the Los Angeles Times Magazine (cover story,) L’Architettura, La Mia Casa, Sunset Magazine and La Nacion.

 

 

 

Rick Meghiddo, Ruth Meghiddo, Meghiddo Architects, www.architectureawareness.com , www.rick-RE.com , www.naturaltowergarden.com , Tel Aviv, Bauhaus

Our client was a young bachelor that bought a one bedroom condominium in a historic 1925 Bauhaus Style building. Without interfering with the exterior, we demolished the original partitions and created a new contemporary space.

Without changing most of the house’s exterior, we completely remodeled its interior and its outdoor areas. The design included built-in artworks throughout.