On the Mountain in Front of the Sea Unveils Coastal Charm

On a one-dunam plot overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, Witt Architects created a varied residential building on the same acreage as when finding inspiration for the historic structures in the area for a single-family house near Haifa, Israel.

Known as On the Mountain in Front of the Sea, the two buildings on the property include a kurkar (local sedimentary stone) residence connected to a pool house with a flat-roofed glass link.

“The patio created between the buildings, together with the strong opening to it, gives a feeling of intimate space,” architect Limor Witt Nevo said.

“The living room is open to the pergola and the magnificent sea view and intimate patio.”

The kurkar structure contains a living and dining area on the ground floor, and a master bedroom on the second floor with access to a private balcony. A “lowered courtyard” leads to a basement that houses a cinema room and entertainment space.

Upon entering the plot, visitors pass mature oak trees, native vegetation including oriental palms, Aleppo pines and jujubes swaying in the midst of bougainvillea, and a kurkar tower with an arched entry, through which the Mediterranean Sea is visible.

A garden path leads around the building to the main entrance, which features an ancient wooden door.

On the interior, arched ceilings and wooden windows echo the facade.

“The access corridor to the rooms was designed with a rhythm of vaults reminiscent of an arcade around an inner courtyard,” Witt Nevo said.

Natural materials were used throughout the project, and wooden beams on the tiled roof were left exposed to enhance the rustic aesthetic.

“Using natural materials of stone, wood and mineral plasterers matched the rustic experience we wanted to achieve,” Witt Nevo said.

Next to the main building, a low-roofed structure contains the children’s bedrooms and continues the aesthetic of historic Israeli architecture with slatted, wooden shutters.

“A corridor leads to the bedrooms and contains several doors along it facing directly into the garden,” the team said.

“The doorways in the children’s rooms are arched with external wooden shutters, a reminder of the residential buildings of the first settlers.”

The wooden boards continued internally into the bedrooms, beyond which the dulce air of the sea mixed with the garden were present.

Across the outdoor passage from the main structure, the buildings connect via a kitchen with a “flat roof and a glass façade towards the garden”.