The Reflection House: dialogues between memory and light

In the heart of the ancient city of Safed, The Reflection House blends tradition and modernity, renewing a historic residence by intertwining the charm of ancient stones with modern elements, featuring suspended volumes, inner courtyards, and plays of light.

Between ancient materials and new architectural languages

Immersed in the dense building fabric of the ancient city of Safed, The Reflection House represents a balance between preservation and innovation. The project, designed by Henkin Shavit Studio, redesigns a private residence while preserving its original character through a careful dialogue between ancient materials and new architectural languages. The intervention revolves around the central courtyard, acting as a public space, while the perimeter rooms take on a more intimate and private dimension. The original stone structure, with its arches and niches carved over time, meets contemporary materials such as transparent glass and steel, creating a harmonious contrast between past and present. An example of how renovation projects can transform historic buildings, preserving their essence and projecting them into the future.

A vertical journey through spaces and connections

The house, shaped like the Hebrew letter "Chet", is divided into five levels, each with its own function and identity. The lower level houses an ancient cellar, while the three intermediate levels accommodate living spaces, including a kitchen, living room, and a guest suite. The upper level opens onto a large panoramic terrace overlooking Mount Meron, offering a unique perspective on the surrounding landscape. A suspended bridge made of steel and wood connects the two wings of the building, in a continuous dialogue with the original staircase, emphasizing the verticality of the structure and the fusion of historical elements and design innovation.

Light, Matter, and the Language of Architecture

The project's concept is based on the relationship between light and matter, between opaque surfaces and transparencies. The ancient is manifested through limestone stones, vaults, and details carved into the masonry, while the new takes shape with materials such as concrete, mosaics, and metal slabs, defining a contemporary architectural narrative. The strategic use of glass allows natural light to filter into the spaces, creating reflections that enhance the texture of the materials and transform the space into a dynamic and ever-changing place.

A refuge between memory and innovation

The Reflection House is not just a residence, but a work that celebrates the relationship between tradition and modernity, combining the charm of preservation with the needs of contemporary living. The intervention by Henkin Shavit Studio demonstrates how architectural projects can reinterpret the past without betraying its essence, transforming a historic dwelling into a fluid, connected space in dialogue with its history.

Gallery

Stone building and double-height interior glass

PEOPLE

Henkin Shavit Studio

Ficus 16, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel