The project "Company" addresses Caesarea, focusing on its distinct place in the Zionist-Israeli narrative. Unlike other lands owned by the Rothschild family, Caesarea’s lands were never transferred to the state and remain privately managed by the "Caesarea Development Corporation." Instead of donating the land, the corporation makes annual contributions to educational and cultural initiatives across Israel
Side B of the work, continuing directly from Side A, proposes the creation of a subsidiary under the "Caesarea Development Corporation" called "The Caesarea Services Corporation." This new subsidiary would continue providing services within Caesarea but would employ its workers directly, integrating them into the local community and offering them housing in 'public service villas'—a form of 'public trust' grounded in local philanthropic principles. Through this concept, the project envisions a socio-architectural future that supports the tangible and direct coexistence of workers from neighboring towns with the residents of Caesarea. The proposal also suggests an intervention in the villa's historical model, fostering interaction and movement—essentially, a form of citizenship—in a place where the citizens typically seek tranquility
As a mother, I see the home as a tapestry of daily events that unfold within it: the sounds of children playing, the scent of lemon trees, calls to the table, and the Friday floor cleaning. I see the home as an environment for growth, development, and care. The plants and trees are a symbiotic part of the home and its spaces, inviting in light, filling the air with fragrance, and creating a sense of endless tranquility. The home I propose in Caesarea is, in essence, a sustainable habitat for local cultivation—a high-quality, ideal environment for a new, joyful family.
Through a shared discussion with Ron and a brief exploration of his research under the chapter titled “The Lady of the House” in the broader Caesarea discourse, I created a visualization based on a design schema that attempts to encapsulate his research findings. The core rooms of the villa are situated at the center, with additional spaces extending from each room around the villa’s periphery. For instance, from the wet room, one can continue outward into the pool areas, and so forth. This layout follows Ron’s understanding of the villa as a home that creates a sense of abundance by replicating standard spatial programs rather than introducing foreign ones, and reflects a conception of the villa as a space desiged to enhance peak moments within the everyday routine.
"Come, let's set aside the architects, the mortgage, and what family members wish for us, and let's look aside at our partner and listen. A real home begins with love and true, everyday attentiveness to whom we are building our nest with. As a child of the nineties, The Sims filled long hours in the afternoons at my parents' house. In my adulthood, after graduating with honors in architecture, I realized that my peers and I, sharing a nostalgia for The Sims, are about to build our nests with our partners. I decided to take those personal moments from my parents' home into my career as an architect. My workshop offers couples a planning method that is also couples therapy: "Public Involvement in The Sims." Through a collaborative play workshop for the couples over several intense weeks filled with conflicts, heartfelt revelations, and effective dialogue, we guarantee you a home that is the entire product based on and grounded in love, healthy relationships, and quality of life. An example of the process with a lovely couple I worked with was sent to the house project in Caesarea."
The earth is the strongest foundation in our profession. It gives us life and takes it away. We are created from it, and it is part of our bodies; we are not above it but part of it. For many years, I have been working with the earth. After completing an extensive seminar where I learned the principles of rammed earth construction, I am now building, with the help of a wonderful team, dreams of returning to the pristine landscape of our desert homeland.
As outlined in Nahum Noach’s proposal for the architectural competition held for designing the Caesarea home, the villa’s design consists of a framework resembling a standard apartment, containing essential rooms: a living room, bedroom, kitchen, wet room, and office. From each of these core spaces, additional uses unfold, integrating various functions into the home environment. For instance, from the bathroom, one can access the pool and jacuzzi areas. From the kitchen, there is direct access to the barbecue area and an elegant guest table, and so on.
Intervention in the Design Proposal:
My intervention in this proposal aims to incorporate accommodations for company employees from the Caesarea Development Corporation within the villa’s grounds. This involves creating an additional entrance to the residential complex, resulting in two distinct entrances: one leading to the villa itself and another to the residential tower situated above it.
The employee residence tower is positioned above the villa’s office space and comprises eight floors, each designated for a single resident. Each floor is designed like a ground-floor home, featuring a wraparound balcony surrounding the bedroom.
As detailed in Rama Even’s proposal for the architectural competition for the Caesarea house, the villa is constructed from rammed earth, which forms its exterior walls and open areas. These spaces include terraced olive groves and an ecological swimming pool.
Intervention in the Design Proposal:
My proposed intervention aims to incorporate living quarters for company employees of the Caesarea Development Corporation within the villa’s grounds. This involves creating a companion building adjacent to Rama’s original design, situated on the same plot to form a central courtyard between the two structures.
The villa design considers the needs of employees’ families, accommodating three distinct family units. Through a layout of doors that create separation, certain bedrooms can eventually be detached from the main family units and converted into autonomous living spaces as needed.
The villa is encased in a jute fabric covering and is constructed with concrete blocks and a reinforced concrete frame. In the employee villa, some rooms can be detached from their primary units to function as independent bedrooms, while common areas such as kitchens and living rooms will be shared among residents.
The existing house, owned by the project’s research subject, is situated on a two-dunam plot and established the footprint size for the homes proposed in the architects’ competition. This two-story house includes multiple living rooms, pools, kitchens, and offices. It is a “smart home,” managed by an autonomous electronic system.
Intervention in the Design Proposal:
My intervention in this existing home aims to incorporate living quarters for company employees of the Caesarea Development Corporation. This involves creating a network of residential pavilions spread throughout the property. Each pavilion is directly integrated with its surrounding spaces by adapting its public areas to match the functions of the nearby program, enhancing connectivity and functionality across the home.