Photo of the house in front view.

Architects: Metropole Architects – Nigel Tarboton
Project Manager: Binom Ltd – Oded Ben-Ari
Main Contractor: Hajaj Ltd – Mustafa Taha
Authorities co-ordinator: Nitza Rotches
Civil and Structural Engineers: Mazok Engineers Ltd – Shlomo Vogman
Landscape Design: Riki Sadeh
Plumbing Engineers: Kizner Engineers Ltd – Arie Kizner
Lighting design: Orly Avron Alkabes
Lighting Supplier: Yair Doram Ltd – Noy Saban
Door and window specialist: Wintec Ltd – Alon Bar On
Sanitaryware and Marble: ItzikAndRoi Ltd – Roi Dadon
Photographer: Grant Pitcher

About Studio

Metropole Architects aims to generate a design that stakes out new territory and explores ideas that are intuitive, inventive, exuberant, and daring. Enthused by visionary architects like John Lautner and Santiago Calatrava, we aspire to create iconic and progressive architectural wonders that capture our collective imagination.

As creatives, we are inspired by the energy of the city as it unceasingly moves, radiates, and evolves like a vast living organism. We strive to use each opportunity presented to us to have a positive effect on the macro and local context. Participating in the collective process of improving the built environment is a highly valued honor.

The dwelling's architecture is divided into several tiers by cantilevered horizontal planes.
The dwelling’s architecture is divided into several tiers by cantilevered horizontal planes.
The main house's flat roof plane is the first feature of the architecture.
The main house’s flat roof plane is the first feature of the architecture.
Cement, steel, bricks, and a light grey and white color scheme make up the exterior.
Cement, steel, bricks, and a light grey and white color scheme make up the exterior.
Vegetation surrounds the home and harmonizes with the materials used to build it.
Vegetation surrounds the home and harmonizes with the materials used to build it.
The gates were the perfect height, and looking at the house from the outside exudes serenity and tranquility.
The gates were the perfect height, and looking at the house from the outside exudes serenity and tranquility.
A freestanding gazebo, a pergola over a car port, a cascade down to first floor slab, and other cantilevered beams.
A freestanding gazebo, a pergola over a carport, a cascade down to the first-floor slab, and other cantilevered beams.
It was crucial that the exceptional quality of the natural light and the interaction of light and shadow be taken into account during the design process.
The exceptional quality of the natural light and the interaction of light and shadow needed to be taken into account during the design process.
The shifting play of light and shadow during the course of the day highlights the architectural of the house.
The shifting play of light and shadow during the day highlights the architecture of the house.
The dining area and kitchen's wooden structures work well together in a symphony of built form brought together by light.
The dining area and kitchen’s wooden structures work well together in a symphony of built form brought together by light.
Because of the glass walls, which keep the inside light, the dining and kitchen space benefits from the sun's bright natural light.
Because of the glass walls, which keep the inside light, the dining and kitchen space benefits from the sun’s bright natural light.
Vast expanses of glazing, thoughtfully designed openings, and strategically placed screens.
Vast expanses of glazing, thoughtfully designed openings, and strategically placed screens.
Bricks, cement, and a white ceiling and flooring make up the inside.
Bricks, cement, white ceiling and flooring make up the inside.
The interior was fantastic, and the brick walls complemented the other materials used perfectly.
The interior was fantastic, and the brick walls complemented the other materials used ideally.
Because of the chandelier that provides light, the staircase has a blend of white, brown, and beige.
Because of the chandelier that provides light, the staircase has a blend of white, brown, and beige.
The architecture's capacity to catch the stunning natural light is aided by the roomy volumes of the interior spaces.
The architecture’s capacity to catch stunning natural light is aided by the roomy volumes of the interior spaces.
The bathroom has concrete with planks off the edges, wood doors and windows, aluminum screens.
The bathroom has concrete with planks off the edges, wood doors, windows, and aluminum screens.
The fact that the sun appears to linger for an eternity before finally disappearing behind the silhouette of downtown is one of the site's most striking and stirring aesthetic features.
The fact that the sun appears to linger for an eternity before finally disappearing behind the silhouette of downtown is one of the site’s most striking and stirring aesthetic features.
A dining table is situated outside with a view of the house's greenery and pool.
A dining table is situated outside with a view of the house’s greenery and pool.
Equally important was the design's capacity to capture the lovely breeze coming and filter it throughout the house in order to provide a suitable living environment, given the hot and humid climate of the middle east.
Equally important was the design’s capacity to capture the lovely breeze coming and filter it throughout the house to provide a suitable living environment, given the hot and humid climate of the middle east.
This arrangement of floating planes is meant to evoke a sensation of mobility along the site's longitudinal axis.
This arrangement of floating planes is meant to evoke a sensation of mobility along the site’s longitudinal axis.
The architecture and the landscaping are thoughtfully complemented, not opposed, by the landscaping's design, which produces a sense of serenity and tranquility.
The architecture and the landscaping are thoughtfully complemented, not opposed, by the landscaping’s design, which produces a sense of serenity and tranquility.
The gray tones of the house and the olive grove's subdued colors create a sense of calm and serenity.
The gray tones of the house and the olive grove’s subdued colors create a sense of calm and serenity.
Fruit trees create a sensory feast of color, scent, taste, and texture, while the wind-driven movement of the grass gives the garden a sense of rhythm and movement.
Fruit trees create a sensory feast of color, scent, taste, and texture, while the wind-driven movement of the grass gives the garden a sense of rhythm and movement.
An illustration of the house that contrasts its richness and originality with the standard residential architype.
An illustration of the house that contrasts its richness and originality with the standard residential archetype.

Metropole Architects have recently completed TLV House on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. The project represents the crowning achievement of a successful international collaboration between an Israeli client and project manager, an Arab Israeli contractor, a Russian Israeli engineer, and a South African architect.

Designed and developed by Metropole Architects in Durban, South Africa, the logistical challenge posed by international work was effectively managed by means of intermittent site visits, regular video conference calls, and a remotely controlled webcam mounted on site which provided a virtual ‘man on the ground’ and enabled the architects to monitor progress on site at all times from South Africa.

The further challenges presented by the language and contextual differences were overcome by the collective spirit of mutual respect, between the members of the project team, which developed naturally as the project progressed. With breathtaking vistas of downtown Tel Aviv to the West, and the spectacle of distant aircraft ascending quietly out of Ben Gurion International airport to the South, the 200 m-long rectilinear sites presented amazing opportunities for a modern luxury home.

The architecture of the dwelling is delineated by multiple layers of cantilevered horizontal planes, starting with the flat roof plane of the main house, and cascading down to the first-floor slab, carport pergola, freestanding gazebo, and other cantilevered beams. This composition of floating planes is intended to create a sense of movement down the longitudinal axis of the site.

One of the most powerful and evocative experiential qualities of the site is that the setting sun seems to linger for an eternity before finally withdrawing behind the silhouette of downtown Tel Aviv’s evolving skyline. It was of critical importance that the outstanding quality of the natural light, as well as the play of light and shadow, was integrated as a fundamental design consideration.

The architectural form of the house is accentuated by the fluctuating play of light and shadow throughout the course of the day, in a symphony of built form brought together in light. The large areas of glazing, as well as the considered design and placement of openings and screens, combined with the spacious volumes of the interior rooms, all contribute to the architecture’s ability to capture spectacular natural light.

Of equal importance, due to the hot and humid middle eastern climate, was the design’s ability to capture the pleasant breeze coming off the Mediterranean Sea from the West, and filter it throughout the home in order to create a comfortable living environment.

These important climatic considerations, together with the use of a diverse palette of materials and textures including natural stone, planked-off shutter concrete, timber doors and windows, aluminium screens, and brass cladding, harmonize to create an environment that inspires a sense of wellness and lifts the spirit.

The design of the landscaping evokes a sense of tranquility and peacefulness, sensitively complimenting rather than competing with the architecture. The muted tones of the olive grove complement the grey tones of the house and instill a sense of simplicity and quiet. The color, aroma, taste, and tactility offered by the fruit trees provide a feast for the senses, and the wind-induced motion of the grass gives the garden a sense of rhythm and movement.

The cultural diversity of the team assembled for the project has resulted in a finished home that has a richness and uniqueness that contrasts with the typical residential archetype experienced in Israel, and the relationships that have been formed as a result of this project, will no doubt continue into the future.

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