From Scandinavia to Japan: The apartment that connects worlds

Architecture, planning and design: Idan Samary Yahalom

Sanitary, parquet and coverings: MODY

The 160 square meter apartment, with a view balcony, is located in a prestigious apartment tower in Haifa. For the sake of the renovation, it was completely demolished, apart from considering the shell, MMD and various systems. A couple lived in the apartment in the mid-1970s from chapter 2. They wanted to adapt the existing furniture, carefully chosen over the years, some of it sentimental or antique and most of it comfortable and functional. Also, their request was for the house to be open and spacious and convenient for daily conduct and in the future, if necessary, movement in a wheelchair and an additional living room would be possible.

"The design style chosen is Japandi as a relaxed and pleasant concept for the elderly, a concept that connects the Scandinavian and the Japanese style. An ideal choice for the homes of the elderly thanks to its ability to combine aesthetics, beauty, functionality and comfort. The style is identified with a clean, simple and elegant appearance, and is free from the burden of Details. This is how memories, furniture and items from the long past were combined to create a new home adapted to the present," explains architect Idan Samary Yahalom, who is in charge of the project. The owner of the house also asked for designated places for reading, or knitting/resting, as well as a workroom that would allow accommodation if necessary, reference to the large storage, and to accommodate the extended family.

In favor of an airy feeling, the architect Idan Samari Yahalom eliminated the corridors, thereby obtaining a sense of open space, in addition, a wide foyer and passage was planned as well as a new division of the functions in the space, alongside plenty of storage spaces. The kitchen took up space at the expense of a bedroom, which allowed natural light to penetrate at all hours of the day. In order to allow for comfortable movement, the arrangement of the furniture and the adapted carpentry were placed and designed so that when walking freely in the house you do not encounter obstacles, prominent or sharp corners.

Several elements in the veneer finish were combined with matching carpentry in the Schleifleck finish in the color of the house's walls. The shade of the veneer was adapted to a particularly large dining table, which years ago was chosen to match antique furniture. The large dining table is located in a large space, which does not require physical effort or any movement when opening and extending it.

In the master suite, a closet was designed with functional fittings: 180-degree opening hinges, heights and divisions that were adjusted as needed, internal lighting, veneer integration on the upper surface, and an open compartment for storing a telephone for direct communication to the emergency center. Handles were also installed parallel to the bed, shower and next to the toilets. The parquet, coverings and sanitary ware were selected by MODY, these were adapted to the special style of the project.