Pardess House

The “Pardess House”, a residence built in the Art Deco style represents the transition from the Romantic Style of the 1920s towards the International Style that flourished in the 1930s in Tel Aviv. The house illustrates the seamline between these two styles as represented by Art Deco. This style is expressed through a theatrical facade accentuating dramatic vertical and horizontal lines and surfaces.
The building was designed by Arch. Zaki Chelouche in 1931 as an office building for the Pardess company. This cooperative association of orchard holders in Palestine-Israel was the first of its kind to be founded in the country. The establishment of this association and its leadership by Shimon Rokach, changed the face of the agricultural settlement and brought it from a state of financial dependence on the Baron de Rothschild officials to economic independence.
In 1937, an additional third floor was added to the building by the original architect, a fitting continuation of the two existing floors sequence.

Address: Levontin Street 5, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Constructed: 1931
Renewed: 2020
Client: Gaya Group
Photographer: Nimrod Levy
Constructor: Gutman Engineers
Contractor: Z.F. Building
Project manager: Boaz Michaeli

1903

Main signage fro, metal restoration original from

The structure boasts details distinctive of the Art Deco style including impressive wooden windows and dramatic vertical thermometer window lining the main facade as well as terrazzo flooring in the main stairwell. Many of the architectural features that characterized this building were damaged or destroyed over the years due to weathering, neglect, and modern interventions on the façade.
The building was designated for preservation and is located within the area declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Conservation and additions

Design and planning included two additional floors recessed from the main façade, an additional rear wing allowing a total of 24 apartments and underground parking. Particular attention was dedicated to the restoration of the incredible details in the main stairwell including original wall paintings, terrazzo treads and panels and restoration of the thermometer window on the main façade.
The main lobby of the building was situated on the seamline of the old and the new and shows off an array of details in the spirit of the Art Deco style including decorative geometric floor tiles, wall paintings, brass light fixtures and brass cladding highlighting the prominent elevator shaft.
Carpentry details were designed with a modern interpretation including the main entrance door and hand-crafted brass fittings. Landscape design includes private gardens embedded with vegetation typical of the period and Mediterranean climate.

Conservation and additions Windows Thermometer Window Main Entrance

Windows

The carpentry details compliment the Art Deco building style -adding a decorative element to the façade with a repetitive geometric pattern

Thermometer Window

Vertical “thermometer” window is a well-known motif of modernist architecture typically used to accentuate the stairwell. The detail is decorative as it is functional helping to illuminate and ventilate the entire stairwell. In this case, the vertical emphasis enhances the theatrical facade distinctive to the Art Deco style.

Main Entrance

A dramatic vertical volume set at the center of the façade, grants a theatrical flair that emphasizes the main entrance to the building. The graded vertical columns that project from the façade are reminiscent of a classical pilaster that create a three-dimensional geometric pattern compatible with the Art Deco style.

Pardess House

Before

During

Conservation and additions

Windows

Thermometer Window

Main Entrance

After