narrow house by ohad yehieli

during the 'houses from within' event in tel aviv, israel, designboom had the opportunity
to visit 'the yehieli - beth on residence' home designed by architect ohad yehieli.
considered one of the narrowest houses in the city, the structure illustrates how architectural
virtuosity manages to create a family home even under seemingly impossible blueprint conditions.



exterior view of the narrow house
image © designboom


the house is located within the hadar yosef neighbourhood of tel aviv, an area that was
established in 1951 and used as housing for jewish immigrants from romania and yemen,
as israel gathered jews from diaspora. these immigrants settled into tiny houses of 22 sqm
that later were increased to 36 sqm, each with two rooms, a kitchenette and washroom.

during the 70s, the city planned to develop the area with the implementation of
high-rise buildings of 10-12 floors, with the refurbishment and expansion of the existing
structures to enable family growth and development.



photo by stav gertz


the plot site is 750 sqm in area and is sliced into four row units with a limited width of 370 cm
wide on its inside. the floor area at ground level is limited by local regulations to 63 sqm.
the narrow house is built within one of these inner units and therefore, windows to the long
façades cannot be opened.



image © designboom


the bathrooms, kitchen and dining are in the heart of the home's 17 meters long plan.



stairway leading to the upper levels
photo by stav gertz


light and air enter the home in three ways:
1) via a patio which runs from the first floor-up and opens to the sky, hanging just above the
dining and kitchen area at the ground floor and opening to the master bathroom and study.
the patio generates air movement and releases heat from lower floors.
2) the children's bathroom on the first floor which is ventilated and exposed to the sky by a
roof window located just above the bathtub, so direct sunlight enters the room at midday
and the evening sky by night.
3) through stairs which run exposed around and above the dining area and kitchen are lit
with the use of six glass roof tiles replacing clay tiles on the roof.



worm's-eye view up the staircase which winds around and above the dining and kitchen area to the upper level
photo by stav gertz

the architecture itself is driven by the limitations of the plot in which it is situated,
with the interior design following the notion of simplicity and minimalism.
the materials which yehieli has used are in their 'rawest'. basalt tiles are used for flooring
throughout the common areas, while exposed concrete sets the background for the stairs.
oriented strand board (OSB) has been polished and lacquered for flooring through the bedrooms.
handrails are made with metal framing colored white and 10mm hollow polycarbonate sheets.



image © designboom



kitchen and dining area
photo by stav gertz



window located in the heart of the home allows for the circulation of air and sunlight to come through the home
image © designboom



bird's-eye view of the kitchen and dining area
photo by stav gertz



concrete is used as background support for the stairs
image © designboom



handrails are made with metal framing colored white and 10mm hollow polycarbonate sheets.
image © designboom



detail
image © designboom



raw wood is used as a basic handrail along the wall
image © designboom



the master bedroom
photo by stav gertz



study / office area
image © designboom



small 'courtyard'
photo by stav gertz



architect ohad yehieli
portrait © designboom



sketches of the narrow house



sketches of the narrow house



north elevation



south elevation



cross section




longitudinal section



longitudinal section



floor plans

1. front yard
2. private garden
3. entrance
4. kitchen
5. dining area
6. living room
7. 'shelter' room
8. bedroom
9. bathroom
10. study
11. patio
12. equipment