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A residential icon in the Jerusalem Hills
A residential icon in the Jerusalem Hills
Jerusalem, Israel
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Other Projects by Dan & Hila Israelevitz architects
A residential icon in the Jerusalem Hills
Jerusalem, Israel
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2025
SIZE
10,000 sqft - 25,000 sqft
A House Where You No Longer Know If You Are Inside or Outside
On a vast and unique plot overlooking the Jerusalem Hills, a private residence was designed to reveal itself slowly, on its own terms. The approach unfolds along a gentle ascent, and only upon entering the site does the true power of the place gradually emerge: an elevated plot commanding dramatic, open views. This is a house that does not announce itself outwardly—it remains modest toward the street, revealing its qualities only to those who experience it from within.
The project was designed by Dan and Hila Israelevitz Architects, based on a holistic approach that views the entire plot as a single living environment. Architecture, garden, and landscape are tightly interwoven, with water serving as one of the key elements that binds them together. Here, water is not a decorative addition but an architectural material in its own right—one that surrounds the house on all sides, defines axes, separates zones, creates calm, and intensifies the home’s connection to nature.
“This is a house that moves me deeply,” says architect Danny Israelevitz. “Here, I was able to fully realize a complete creation—both at a specific moment in my life and as an architect. I took almost every decision to its extreme: a vast floating roof, circular forms penetrating the house, and a complete blurring of the boundary between inside and outside. At a certain point, you can no longer tell what is interior and what is exterior. The public spaces are surrounded by water, glass, and trees—everything I dreamed of as a child found expression here.”
He continues:
“This project reached its peak in every sense. I wanted flow rather than rigidity. The glass façades continue uninterrupted, without stopping at concrete walls; the glazing is always cornered, and the space remains amorphous and dynamic. Sunlight enters, moves, and travels through the house, creating an ongoing dialogue with the architecture.”
The entrance sequence itself passes through water, forest, and treetops—crossing a bridge above a black reflecting pool—an almost surreal moment. The roof is perforated, circular motifs recur both inside and out, and everywhere there is more concealed than revealed. “This is a house that fully expresses my passion for architecture that is felt, not just seen,” Israelevitz adds.
The design is rooted in principles of biophilic architecture, with a strong emphasis on user experience and a direct connection to the surrounding landscape. The presence of water is felt from nearly every point in the house—through reflecting pools, at the entrance, and in views toward the swimming pool and the open scenery beyond. The movement of light across the water, the reflections, and the subtle sounds create a continuous sensory experience that accompanies the residents throughout the day.
Designed for a couple with four children, the home’s split-level organization precisely supports family life. The entrance level—also the upper floor—contains the public spaces: living room, kitchen, dining area, guest restroom, home office, and the master suite. This level opens toward the main courtyard, the swimming pool, and the expansive landscape, with water becoming an inseparable part of daily life and the views from the central spaces.
The lower level is dedicated to the children and opens entirely toward the rear of the plot and a large, meaningful garden. Here, too, the relationship between inside and outside is preserved, but with a different character—more intimate and free—allowing the children an independent world of their own, completely separated from the public upper level.
The overall form of the house resembles a small “H,” with reflecting pools integrated between the wings of the structure. These pools cut through the house and accompany the main entrance axis, with stepping stones seemingly floating on the water. Entering through water creates a clear transitional moment—from the outside world into a calm, precise, and serene inner realm. The water reflects the sky, vegetation, and architecture, deepening the sense of openness and spatial continuity.
Water also plays a central role in shaping the emotional and visual experience of the house. The swimming pool and all water features were designed by Avner Tzadok of Plagim, creating a continuous visual flow that connects different zones and enhances the feeling of tranquility and detachment. A meticulously engineered water system integrates naturally into the architecture, reinforcing the relationship between the built form and the surrounding landscape.
The house is characterized by an exceptionally high degree of transparency, allowing water to be present from almost every angle. Through glass walls, patios, and circulation axes, water becomes a constant backdrop—reflecting the passage of time, the shifting light, and the changing seasons.
The modern design language, expressed through a restrained monochromatic palette and rich materiality of stone, metal, and glass, allows the water and landscape to take center stage. The living room, dressed in calm off-white tones, remains clean and understated, deliberately avoiding competition with the drama unfolding outside—the reflections of water and the ever-changing view.
photographer Oded Smadar
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