The Light in the Tunnel

A few months ago, a guest visited us at the studio with an interesting request: ceiling design for the elevator in her private home; A house for conservation in the art deco style from the 1920s, a work that will correspond on the one hand with the design style of the house and on the other hand with its historical story. It was designed by the famous architect, Yosef Berlin for one of the most important literary editors of the period and in his days famous figures from the world of Hebrew literature lived in the house.

An elevator is not a simple space. A narrow space that generates a startling falling movement and sweeps us into feelings of claustrophobia and lack of private space. In order to distract the experience of using the elevator from these features, we asked to take the user through a gradual process of leading the gaze up to the creation. We did this with a small addition that, like a slide from the ceiling of the elevator to the wall, at eye level, which opens to a skylight bathed in ceiling light and behind it a surreal landscape rich in details.

When we researched a little the meaning of looking up we found a fascinating article about light and past time. We recommend taking a look here.

The owner of the house undertook the complex task of renovating the building together with Kimel Eshkolot Architects and the lighting design with Orli Alkabes (who also referred her to us – champions), along with an impressive curatorial work of design details and art that moved us very much. To mention two; In front of the elevator entrance hangs a ceiling light fixture from the “Wireflow” collection designed by Aric Levy for the Vibia company and a few steps away, above the dining table, a maddening chandelier from the “Porca Miseria” series by the revered German designer Ingo Maurer who passed away a few weeks ago. We did not take pictures of the items to protect the privacy of the residents, but you can see them in the links.

The work included the adjustment of the lighting shade in front of Orly Alkabes’ team, the electrical wiring and the adjustment of the sensor for turning on and off the lighting in front of the Schindler elevator company and of course the adjustment and accuracy of the work in front of the owner of the house, who put a lot of trust in us. It was exciting and satisfying to carry out work planned in advance to integrate into the overall design of a space, in which every corner or passage received dedicated care. We have pledged to keep the location of the house a secret, but we really hope that you will have the opportunity to get there, smell the Italian lemon fence at the entrance, look at the works of art in the living room, go down to the wine cellar where the literary bohemia used to hang out before the rise of the state and take the elevator we designed to the pool on the roof to look out over the city.

A huge thank you to Dudi Dorham, Zion Azar, Tomer Friedman, Orli Alkabes, and Schindler Elevators.