Contemporary Flat in Historic Israeli Building

Located in the old port of Jaffa in Tel Aviv, Israel, this 1,080 sq ft (100 sq m) residential flat with ancient walls overlooks the majestic Mediterranean Sea, and resides in a building that is estimated to be hundreds of years old.

Over the years, the historical stone-built building has undergone various additions and transformations which have damaged the original quality. Israeli-based Pitsou Kedem Architects was asked to restore the structure so that the original materials (stone, pottery and beach sand) would be revealed once again.

The architects combined the old and the new, while maintaining the qualities of each. After carefully restoring the walls to their original state, a special epoxy resin was applied onto the stone walls to reinforce the stone structure. Modernity is expressed through the opening up of spaces and the creation of an urban loft environment.