The Stone House Regavim | Liat Baavour

The stone house at the entrance to Kibbutz Regavim is an integral part of the landscape reminiscent of its architect Liat Baavour’s childhood.  As a native of Regavim who still lives and has an office there, Liat says "I grew up knowing about its existence. It was always there, standing alone at the end of a road that leads up to the kibbutz."

The Kibbutz is currently experiencing a period of growth and expansion and needed a place that would allow for large gatherings and meetings - both cultural and social.

The architect was entrusted with the planning process and its restoration all while ensuring she adhered to all the restoration laws

The inspiration behind the aesthetic language she formulated for the space was drawn from the use of light in the works of the Flemish painter Vermeer – in the way that it conveys silence and atmosphere, and as such preserves the qualities of the space. Meanwhile, the tapestry that was used is based on woven monochromatic minimalism that is derived from performing a formal cleaning using a palette of earth tones drawn from the surrounding environment, and the use of local materials from nature.

The larger of the two interior spaces was designed with seating areas which allows for flexible use – including lectures, workshops, watching movies, or for spontaneous social gatherings. The small space contains a cafe and a sit-down bar steeped in a pleasant atmosphere, devoid of a gimmicky contemporary dimension, and with an accessible entrance to the bar. The perimeter of the building is surrounded by golden sandstones, and in front there is a combed concrete plaza bordered by built-in planters which have a variety of vegetation that was planted including green bushes with a touch of purple blooms and loads of spice plants. "Besides the natural dimensions and the good energy that vegetation brings, planters are a great solution to the difference in height that was created between the building and the extension. Combining the railings would have been seen as adding a foreign element that did not belong to the place and would have even violated the coherent clean design we wanted to create. In addition, we pruned the old oak tree that stood nearby in order to preserve the structure, as another echo in nature with a strong connection to the environment."

In addition to hosting gatherings and meetings, our intention was to hold painting and photography exhibitions in the Stone House, which according to me provides both a cultural outlet and is kind of a substitute for the popular social interactions that once took place along the kibbutz paths. "Today, with the privatization of the kibbutz, these social gatherings on the sidewalks, which were an integral part of the fabric of life have come and gone. But as it turns out the people still have a longing for them. People like coming to the place and enjoy spontaneous everyday social gatherings, and not just in the context of holidays or ceremonies. When I see how this place operates, it simply warms the heart.

 Not only as an architect, but mainly because I feel that it expresses me as a resident of this place."

If it is a local expression, Baavour reflects on another similar project that might be on the table. "Long ago, a shack stood next to the stone house that was used as a dining room, and later burned down. One idea is to restore it as well, as another step that would restore the crown to its former glory - will respect the settlement's past and enrich it with historical content with the added value of incorporating the here and now.”

Danny Shahaf, Kibbutz’s Community Manager

Yotam Birak, Project Manager

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