The owners of this 70-square-meters studio apartment wished to create an modern getaway for themselves in the historic Neve Tzedek neighborhood in Tel Aviv. The architect Raz Melamed was chosen for the project. Melamed had previous experience with refurbishing and modernizing historic properties in the neighboring ancient city of Jaffa, but the project in Neve Tzedek presented a whole new set of challenges. However, within a few months of hard labored work alongside creative engineer BukiSnir and contractor Elad Cohen, Melamed succeeded in revealing the property?s hidden promise and giving it new life. Photography by Amit Geron.

The property, closed and derelict for years, was comprised of a patchwork of shacks that were joined together to create a dark and disjointed maze with a hidden patio. A slanted wall truncated the entire space. The property needed a thorough renovation, but its location in the historic neighborhood required a careful work of preservation and protection of its outer shell. Melamed created three alternative plans for the interior. The first attempted to create the illusion of an open rectangular space, while hiding the slanted wall, the second worked the slanted wall into the plan and the third heavily relied on it. ?We chose the first plan, extenuating the horizontal and vertical axes (Cardo and Decumanus), and dividing the interior into four rectangular spaces: sleeping area, living room, kitchen and patio,? says Melame...