Exposed

Sometimes all you need is a client who is willing to go with you.

Sometimes all you need is to strip back the layers—to scrape them away and remove them.

Sometimes all you need is to set fear aside.

Sometimes all you need is not to invent something new, but to look more closely at what is already there.

Sometimes, it even works.

The old, unconventional Tel Aviv apartment we took on was created in the 1990s—a great decade for music, but less so for architecture. Split levels, lines that did not meet, an oversized central core, and an aggressive structure all seemed to work against us.

The sketches would not take off. We explored one direction, chose another, tested, flipped, and rotated, but nothing worked. Everything felt stuck, with no clear path forward.

Meanwhile, we asked for a technical inspection of the ceiling. By noon, we received photographs that were nothing short of astonishing. Hidden behind layers of blocks and plaster was a small, mysterious, and powerful universe.

Blocks can be removed. Plaster can be scraped away. And a mysterious, powerful universe is something worth revealing.

We spoke with the client, who immediately agreed to join us on this journey. We asked the contractor to remove all the unnecessary layers. We convinced ourselves not to be afraid, because this really could work. We realized that what already existed within the ceiling was more compelling than anything we could design and add.

A year later, we believe it worked.

לפעמים כל מה שצריך הוא לקוח שמוכן לצאת איתך לדרך. להסיר שכבות, לוותר על הפחד ולא לנסות להמציא משהו חדש, אלא להתבונן היטב במה שכבר קיים.

הדירה התל אביבית הלא שגרתית, שתוכננה בשנות התשעים, הייתה עמוסה במפלסים, קווים שאינם נפגשים ומבנה כבד שהקשה על התכנון. שום כיוון לא הצליח להתגבש, עד שבדיקה טכנית של התקרה חשפה עולם נסתר ועוצמתי מאחורי שכבות של בלוקים וטיח.

במקום להוסיף, החלטנו לחשוף. הלקוח הצטרף מיד לתהליך, הקבלן הסיר את השכבות המיותרות, ומה שכבר היה קיים בתקרה הפך לאלמנט המרכזי של הבית. שנה לאחר מכן, נדמה שהמהלך הצליח.

Sometimes all you need is a client who’s willing to go with you. Sometimes all you need is to strip back the layers—scrape them off, remove them. Sometimes all you need is to set fear aside. Sometimes all you need isn’t to “invent” something new, bu

Modern kitchen with white brick ceiling, large window showing green trees, and stainless steel appliances. Wooden chairs are around a dark table with a magazine and toy on it.

Modern dining room with wooden table and chairs, beige cabinetry, decorative items, and pendant lights hanging from a textured white ceiling.

Modern living room with large window, white brick ceiling, pendant and track lighting, white walls, a gray sectional sofa with a white throw, a side table with an orange lamp, plants near the window, a dining table with wooden chairs, and decorative

A modern living room with a large beige sectional sofa, a white fuzzy throw blanket, a landscape painting with red and orange tones on the wall, large window showing trees outside, two small white round side tables, two gray armchairs with brown leat

Interior view of a modern living space with large windows, a gray sectional sofa, a hanging round white light, paintings, and wooden furniture, with a bright and airy atmosphere.

Modern open-plan living room and kitchen area seen through large glass sliding doors, with plants and outdoor space visible outside.

Interior view through a partially open door showing a children's play area with toys like teddy bears, a toy truck, and a ball pit, with bright natural light and windows in the background.

Modern kitchen with white cabinetry, large windows showing greenery outside, wooden dining table with matching chairs, and a sleek kitchen island in the center.

Modern dining room with black table, wooden chairs, and beige built-in shelving. Decor includes small figures and books, with pendant lights hanging from exposed ceiling beams.

Modern minimalist kitchen with white cabinetry, stainless steel island, black built-in oven, large window, track lighting, and three metal chairs with vintage car and travel motifs on the seats.

View of a modern, unfinished bedroom with a large corner window showing trees and city buildings outside. The ceiling is exposed with visible concrete beams. On the bed, there are stuffed animals, including a teddy bear, and a small orange side table

A modern bedroom with white walls, a large bed with white bedding, and a view outside through a sliding glass door. There is a plant in the corner, a chair with a distressed finish, a small side table, a large painting, and some binoculars on a stool

A minimalist white desk with an iMac computer, a lamp, and a decorative doll, set against a wall with built-in white bookshelves filled with books. An office chair is positioned in front of the desk.

A minimalist bedroom with a low bed, white bedding, and a wooden nightstand. Large glass sliding doors to a balcony with a potted plant outside. Framed artwork and modern lighting on the white wall. Light wood flooring and ceiling with an exposed bea

Modern office space with a black desk and wooden chairs, a white bookshelf with decorative items and books, a round white pendant light hanging from the ceiling, and an exposed unfinished ceiling with structural beams.

Modern kitchen and dining area with light wood chairs, a dark table, white brick ceiling, pendant lights, and a kitchen island with glass jars, with a window showing greenery outside.

View of wooden cabinet with open white shelving unit, containing books and a small black Buddha head statue, against a wood floor.