House Y by Ohad Yehieli

At first glance, House Y, designed by Ohad Yehieli, appears taller than it really is. The trick on the eyes is a result of a series of techniques employed to stretch the building in height and capitalize on the restrictive width of the site; the house is only a little over twelve feet wide. Situated in Tel Aviv, Israel, House Y transcends its narrow interior with cleverly positioned structural elements and divisions within its vertical space. In order to maximize interiors, many shelving units are built into the shell of the house, a great use of the wall section as convenient and functional storage. A staircase wraps around a towering gray wall, the white underbelly of the steps left exposed to carve more open space within the residence. Transparent and translucent screens are used as railings and room dividers in order to prevent the house from feeling too closeted. Materiality also becomes a form of organization, for the basalt tiles of the lower floors create a colder and industrial ambience while the oriented strand board warms up the private bedrooms and workspaces on the upper floors.

via – Images ©Shai Epstein