Pitsou Kedem balances concrete box above glazed lower floor at S House
A solid concrete volume sits above the predominantly glazed ground-floor living areas of this house in the Israeli city of Herzliya by architect Pitsou Kedem (+ slideshow).
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_936_16.jpg)
The S House is located in the affluent beachfront district of Herzliya Pituach and was designed by Kedem's Tel Aviv studio, which has previously created residences in the region including a house with bands of shutters featuring a perforated geometric pattern, and a seafront property with a cantilevered upper storey and stripy facade.
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_936_17.jpg)
The building comprises a ground floor surrounded by white rendered walls and glazed partitions, which contrast with the heavy-looking volume containing the first-floor bedrooms This effect is exaggerated when the glass walls are retracted or rotate, creating entirely open spaces connected to the poolside terrace.
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_936_15.jpg)
The concrete upper storey is supported by an embedded steel framework and several carefully positioned columns that allow the facades to be opened up.
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_936_9.jpg)
"The levitation of the prism, formed by clean lines, dictates the entirety of the grounds and entrance by way of transparent partitions of different types – dropping down toward and marking the ground," said the architects.
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_936_11.jpg)
"As such, the public spaces of the home – the dining room, kitchen, living room, garden and decorative pool – have their inner and outer boundaries entirely blurred."
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_936_14.jpg)
The contrast of opacity and transparency continues in the more private areas towards the front of the house, where a screen of vertical timber slats shields the interior from unwanted views.
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_936_7.jpg)
The slatted surface extends around an outdoor lobby area, where a walkway formed of large slabs crosses a reflecting pool incorporating planted beds.
The walkway leads towards the entrance, set in a glazed wall that creates a sense of the living space extending outwards into the sheltered pool area.
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_936_22.jpg)
A master bedroom suite situated next to the entrance is also flanked by the wooden slats. These help to shade the room from direct sunlight, while allowing views out towards a row of trees and the pond that stretches along the base of one wall.
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_936_19.jpg)
In the open-plan living area, the wall opposite the entrance is formed of glass doors with steel frames that swivel to provide direct access onto the poolside patio.
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_936_21.jpg)
The corner of the adjacent dining room is entirely glazed. The walls can be retracted to connect this space with an additional dining area sheltered beneath the projecting upper storey.
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_936_28.jpg)
Staircases incorporated behind the kitchen's storage units lead up to the bedrooms, and down to a basement containing additional lounge areas, a gym and additional guest bedrooms.
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_936_27.jpg)
The bedrooms on the upper floor are arranged along a landing that looks down over a circulation void flanked by an exposed concrete wall. Each room opens onto a balcony overlooking the pool on the opposite side.
Photography is by Amit Geron.
Project credits:
Initial design and planning: Irene Goldberg, Pitsou Kedem
In-charge architect: Raz Melamed
Lighting design: Orly Avron Alkabes
Styling for photography: Eti Buskila
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_01.gif)
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_02.gif)
![S House by Pitsou Kedem](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/06/shabat-house-pitsou-kedem-herzliya-israel-amit-geron_dezeen_03.gif)