A preserved home in Hof Hacarmel combines contemporary minimalism

A couple in their 60s, who have lived for over 18 years in a row house in Hof HaCarmel, decided to take an unconventional step: Instead of expanding, adding, and updating, as most of their neighbors did, they chose to go backward — to preserve the original architecture and adapt it to their way of life — minimalist and precise.

Designer Kobi Halifa, from Arteferro, who was responsible for the iron openings, designed for them functional precision and contemporary design.

The house was built in the 1970s as part of a project that was intended to serve as a community hotel, but when the project failed — the apartments became ground-level residential units.

The couple chose not to "go with the flow" and not to add pergolas or extensions but, as they themselves describe, "to restore the crown to its former glory" — using high-quality raw materials, clean lines, and plenty of natural light.

At the center of the process were the glass and iron solutions by Arteferro, which provided the special openings that redefined the space of the house and created openings whose purpose is to ventilate and create a connection to nature.

The front wall of the house was dismantled and replaced by Arteferro with a giant opening about 10 meters wide, in a clean design free of mannerisms. The couple chose a thin Belgian profile in white color and insulated glass combined with triplex, which provides thermal and acoustic insulation, along with a high sense of security.

"The goal was to blur the boundaries between inside and outside and to connect the house naturally to the garden and the public space," explains Kobi Halifa, the house designer and project manager at Arteferro.

The choice of transparent glass allows abundant light to enter, while proper planting in the garden maintains a natural sense of privacy.

At the rear front, which faces a public path, sophisticated solutions were planned: The bathroom was placed on one side, the kitchen on the other, and in between — Belgian openings with striped glass — allowing natural light to enter while maintaining privacy.

Also inside the house, another Belgian opening was planned between the bathroom and the rest of the space — a unique solution that brings in natural light and enhances the sense of space inside the house.

The kitchen in the house is far from the traditional image, and in line with the couple's lifestyle, it is a large wooden shelf with a marble surface, a sink, and a small refrigerator. "They hardly cook," Halifa explains. "It’s an ideological choice that aligns with the minimalist approach."

The bedroom also breaks conventions: The couple sleeps in a Japanese method on a mattress stored during the day, so the room remains free and ventilated for most of the day. At night, the mattress is taken out for sleeping.

The floor is covered with black tiles in a subtle herringbone pattern, continuing outside the house into the garden area. Hundreds of wildflower bulbs are scattered throughout the garden, becoming part of the natural landscape of the surroundings.

The choice of a minimalist design rich in natural materials, combined with Arteferro’s high-quality iron openings, created a home that is not just a residence but a faithful expression of an entire lifestyle.