Features of Israeli Design: Patterned Tiles
Uri Lifshitz Building; Photo: Liat Albling
One of my favorite design elements in a space is a beautiful patterned tile. Patterned tiles appear throughout Spanish, Italian, and Mexican interiors (the three countries I turn to most for global inspiration), and to my delight they are incredibly popular in Israel and also distinctly Israeli. Israeli homes come standard with tiles; they are resilient in the hot climate and, with no local lumber industry, they offer both a more attainable and more functional solution than real hardwood. You can find ancient colorful tiles in centuries-old buildings in Jaffa and Jerusalem, retro orange and brown tiles from the ‘60s and ‘70s in apartments in Tel Aviv, and modern tiles in every shape and color in renovated homes across Israel.
Cafeteria inside HaMiffal at Lorenzo House Cultural Center; Photo: Tzachi Ostrovsky via NYTimes
HaMiffal, Jerusalem; Photo: Mallory Serebrin
Terrazzo tiles, like below, were ubiquitous in Israel and made of concrete with bits of stone throughout. When renovating a home in Israel, people often remove this old terrazzo, even to replace it with a more modern terrazzo tile (which is trending worldwide). On walls you can uncover wonderful vintage tiles, which I would love to salvage and repurpose in a home, instead of completely discard. This particular Italian tile shows up everywhere:
Via Romy Silber Benit, uncovered during a renovation
Via Maya Linenberg, uncovered during a renovation
Via MaDeux, found at the Haifa flea market
These Israeli homes showcase beautifully preserved tiles in renovated spaces designed for the 2020’s:
Design: Meital Mayorchik Sarid; Photo: Shai Epstein
Design: Yael Friedlander; Photo: Nimrod Levy
Design: Emily Shkedi; Photo: Dor Kedmi
Design and Photo: MaDeux
If you have an old apartment covered in old tiles, consider giving them new life instead of throwing them all away.
La Fotosintesi, Naples & Paris
It’s not every day I add a designer to my favorites list but it’s one of those days with La Fotosintesi. Architect duo Julie Nebout and Giuseppe Punzo, a couple both in work and life, meld the modern with the local and ancient in bold primary colors. They dig through the layers of the walls and floors to resurface what was once there, and they have made me completely rethink the half-painted wall.
Paradisiello:
Quartieri:
Cavour:
Other designers I find especially exciting: Beata Heuman, Masquespacio, and Nook Architects.
AMOO Studio, Barcelona
I always come back to Spain for inspiration. Barcelona architect duo Aureli Mora and Omar Ornaque of AMOO Studio do amazing things with color, angles, and mirrors.
BORRELL:
CALÀBRIA:
OMG BCN 2:
PROVIDÈNCIA:
THE VILLA (vermouth bar):
Nook Architects, Barcelona
Barcelona has some of the best interiors, with multicolored tile floors and beamed ceilings. Nook Architects uses both beautifully — they’re a new favorite.
Gorgeous windows.
I love that hallway tile juxtaposed with the bedroom tile. Did you notice the clock?
Bathroom Top 10 list.
Beautiful tiles. They give the space everything.
Beams and tiles.
Here’s Nook’s three-person team:
I’m looking forward to their Domestika course, Interior Design from Start to Finish.