Located in the Neve Shaanan neighborhood in southern Tel Aviv, an area undergoing significant decline amidst rapid development, the Fein 1 Central Apartment Building project seeks to revitalize the community. This complex provides essential residential units alongside street-level commercial spaces, while thoughtfully preserving traditional elements of the existing structures on site. The project is part of the Tel Aviv Jaffa Municipal Master Plan, which aims to revamp and uplift the city’s southern neighborhoods.
The neighborhood’s cultural and economic growth reflects a broader gentrification process aimed at creating a more open, progressive atmosphere. This transformation includes the expansion of the renowned Bat Sheva Dance Company and the construction of a new light rail station adjacent to the Fein 1 Central Apartment Building.
HQ Architects led the design of this project, responding to the requirement of “small apartments with cross ventilation.” They challenged the conventional box-shaped building typology common in Tel Aviv by inverting interior and exterior spaces, effectively addressing both ventilation and spatial constraints.
The six-story apartment building covers a total area of 6,400 square meters, centered around an internal courtyard and a large shared balcony open to the sky. From its inception, Fein 1 was envisioned as a collaborative residential project with a strong community focus. To maintain this spirit, the architect designed shared spaces such as a vibrant red inner courtyard and sweeping curved balconies, which function as leisure and walking areas for residents. These communal areas play a crucial role in fostering community culture.
Beyond its social benefits, the internal courtyard enhances sustainability by providing shade during the summer and allowing warm sunlight in the winter, supporting the project’s goal of low energy consumption.
The building comprises 53 small to medium-sized units: 49 two-bedroom, 3 three-bedroom, and 1 four-bedroom apartments. This configuration targets young families and professionals, providing affordable housing opportunities within the neighborhood. Additionally, the building includes 9 retail units, incorporating 350 square meters of space from the preserved old structure.
The building’s facade features a minimalist and symmetrical gray and white design, typical of Tel Aviv’s local architecture. The architects highlight the contrast between public and private spaces through bold color choices: the interior courtyard is painted a vivid red, creating a private, ventilated refuge from the busy street. The organic, flowing lines of the balconies soften the strict symmetry of the facade, emphasizing the separation between the street and residential areas.
The apartment complex also includes a private five-story underground parking garage, vital in this high-density area with limited parking availability. Simultaneously, the design encourages reducing vehicle presence to foster a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.
Erez Ella, founding partner of HQ Architects, shared:
“We are excited to see the completion of Fein 1 Central Apartment Building and hope it will contribute to the area’s renewal and transformation by providing sufficient living space. The project not only offers high-quality residential apartments but also features an internal courtyard that serves as a gathering space for residents, promoting community activities and ensuring fresh air throughout the complex.”
Project Drawings
△ First Floor Plan
△ Plans for Second to Fifth Floors
△ Sixth Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
Project Information
Architectural Design: HQ Architects
Area: 6,400 m²
Project Year: 2021
Photographer: Dor Kedmi
Project Architects: Oded Fux, Smadar Efrati
Design Team: Gal Ravit, Idan Agiv, Ido Aziz, Keshet Rosenblum, Oife Gala, Svetlana Tanunina, Noam Burg
Architectural Design: HQ Architects
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