dana oberson architects completes contemporary stone villa in neve ilan, israel

contemporary stone villa in israel: a call for coexistence 

israeli-based dana oberson architects studio has recently completed the ‘contemporary stone villa’, a new project in neve ilan, israel. the two-story house is built on a gentle slope overlooking the neve ilan forest, the lowland, and the mediterranean sea on the horizon to the west.

originally a cooperative kibbutz, the plot of the villa borders the arab town of abu ghosh where remains of historic biblical settlements have been discovered. ‘the house sits on the edge of the two towns, arab and jewish, and as such, it creates a border that has a statement that should respect the place, the neighbors, and which calls for coexistence,’ says architect dana oberson. 

creating balance and integration with historical context

the entrance façade is composed of a single level that blends in the view and reflects balance and integration into the environment. ‘the choice of material came from observing the unrefined stone that builds the agricultural terraces of neve ilan,‘ explains oberson.

‘we loved how the layers of history are evident in the stone. we wanted to tell a story of identity and context through a structure in which this stone is a significant part. these unrefined stone slabs flow from the outside into the interior spaces of the house and connect them’.  you can view more of the architect’s projects here. 

positioned between two volumes of stone, a light and soft glass foyer produces a double space and reveals a dramatic view of the terraces and the forest. on the top floor of the glass foyer, an internal bridge connects the master bedroom to other spaces within that same floor. 

complementing the transparent entrance to the house is a selection of materials that are exposed and rough. brutal concrete ceilings; brushed and burnt-looking oak cladding in the kitchen and foyers; natural iron in the staircase, the living room library, and the local unrefined stone. moreover, a black basalt floor connects the interior to the exterior, another local material that was mined, piled up, and given a new interpretation as the floor of the house. 

blending with the terraces, the horizon, and the sky

the contemporary stone villa in israel is completed with an outdoor terrace and an infinity pool that blends with the agricultural terraces, the horizon, and the sky. ‘in developing the landscape, it was important for us to avoid fences and railings to assimilate in the landscape. due to the house location, at the edge, we thought it could act as a seam rather than a dividing border,’  comments oberson.

this challenge was repeated in the design of the railings between the two levels of the house. ‘unlike a continuous railing that connects two points and creates a boundary, we designed a railing from random-looking flat iron pillars, which serve as a basis for the growth of climbing plants and thus integrate maximally with the landscape’.

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.