Residence in the Galilee
The house overlooks the Sea of Galilee with a sweeping view of the Galilee from every room. The Generous openings facing the view to the south and east, require the provision of shading and filtering against the intense sun, which is provided by the wooden shutters. The shutters slide in adjustment to the position of the sun.
The shutter lattices, as typical of Mediterranean mashrabiya, block views inwards and maintain privacy, while allowing one to enjoy the scenery from the inside. The light rays penetrating through the slits create a magical, ever-changing atmosphere in the interior anytime the sun illuminates the shutters.
The windows and doors are recessed from the shutters' outer façade. The double-skin envelope, created that way, significantly improves the climate control of the house and thus – as the clients indicated – despite the heavy heat, typical to this region of the Jordan Valley slopes, the house stays cool and pleasant even during the hottest days of summer.
The desire was for the residence to embrace and engage with the ancient landscape. Therefore, it was important to maintain an unobstructed continuity between the lot and its surroundings. The level of the house was carefully determined for a minimal rise above the existing ground level to provide far views, while still avoiding any retaining walls or barriers, despite the mountainous terrain.
The house aims to integrate into the pastoral surroundings. The yellowish-brown ridge at the front, the rugged soil and the Olive and Carob groves around it where horses graze, led to the choice of the materials: matching colors for the cement textured plaster and the timber shutters outside, light brown stone for the paving inside, and the wooden ceiling with its massive beams.
The cypress tree at the corner of the lot, the oak tree by the living room window and other mature trees were preserved during construction, and the house was built among them. Amid the rocks, rosemary, lavender and spice plants with local fragrance were planted. The house was designed to capture the ambiance of the environment and was built out of elements that originate from it.
