Every Home Needs a Balcony

Interior design and comprehensive renovation of a 100 sqm apartment in the Bavli neighborhood of Tel Aviv, designed for a family of four and their dog. Located in a building from the 1980s, this was the apartment’s first major renovation, involving a complete demolition and reconfiguration of the interior.

The starting point for the design was the desire to bring the outdoors in and create a sense of openness, light, and space within the existing envelope. The public areas were opened up and redesigned, with a dedicated workspace and a display area for selected works by artist Yaron Shin.

The central move of the project was the creation of a new balcony carved out of the apartment’s existing floor area, without altering the building’s façade. Part of the interior was given over to creating a small yet significant outdoor space, extending the living area and strengthening the connection between the home and its surroundings.

The balcony was defined by textured gray render, dark stone flooring set approximately one centimeter below the interior floor level, and a vertical planted wall that brings greenery and vitality into the living space. Dedicated lighting highlights the vegetation in the evening hours. Inside, three-layer engineered wood flooring creates a clear yet subtle material distinction between the interior and exterior.

A new square-shaped entrance hall was also introduced, defining the transition between the public and private areas, while one of the bedrooms was adapted for accessible use by a close family member.

The project demonstrates how thoughtful design can significantly transform the quality of life within an existing envelope. Though modest in size, the balcony has become a central element of the home, bringing a sense of openness, light, and connection to the outdoors—without altering the building’s façade.