Villa "Nof 64" in Arad (photo: Ziv Reinstein editing: Nir Chen)
The rosé wine tucked into the ice-laden champagner was waiting for us when we entered the villa in a pleasant dusk.
"Come, drink, the wine is at exactly the right temperature for this time of day," Itai Levin, architect and owner of Villa "Nof 64" in Arad, told us, who welcomed us.
And when they say that God is in the small details - they probably mean "View 64".
And this is probably what was in front of Levin's eyes, when he chose to leave the Tel Aviv comfort zone and take an old concrete villa at Nof Street 64 in Arad, and turn it into a luxurious design gem where everything was thought of.
But about everything.
Nof Street in Arad is probably one of the most beautiful and historic streets in the desert city, built somewhere in the 1960s.
On both sides of it are private houses that are built in almost the same style of reinforced concrete that has undergone renovations and adjustments over the years.
Most of the houses have a rectangular shape and a straight concrete roof, and if you thought of the architect Le Corbusier who designed the well-known Villa Savoy (1929) near Paris, which is a symbol and example of the international style, then yes - Levin also took him into account when he redesigned Nof 64 , includes the five design principles for reinforced concrete construction by the late Swiss architect.
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Booked a B&B in the north for NIS 6,000, and received pigeon excrement and a liquid
jacuzzi
When they say that God is in the small details - they probably mean this villa.
"Nof 64" in Arad (photo: courtesy of Nof 64)
Nof 64 is a modern entrance to Villa Savoia, designed by the architect Le Corbusier (photo: courtesy of Nof 64)
The inspiration came from Le Corbusier and the French Villa Savoie.
The architect Itai Levin (photo: Surfers' photos, courtesy of the photographer)
A story about love and light
The house that was opened as a guest villa, although it contains a brutalist style infrastructure, thought was put into everything - from the type of desert succulent vegetation in the garden, through a fabric hammock that resembles a Bedouin tent to the last of the lampshades that hang in every room.
The villa has four double bedrooms, so the accommodation is perfect for four couples, but it can host up to 13 people (and even 19 people who sleep on pull-out beds or sofas).
Each room has its own name and design in a different style.
For example, the "Loft - A Story of Love and Light" room (as opposed to the book "A Story of Love and Darkness" by the late Amos Oz), which combines tributes to the Bedouin population living in the area, with a round bed with a diameter of 2.65, a large and separate bathroom with transparent sliding windows. In the bathtub Inside, Dead Sea products are pampering, including bath brushes for a high-quality "scrub", soaps and even toothpaste with Dead Sea minerals. And the towels? Thick like a soft and pleasant carpet (precisely not from "Arad towels") which were probably not high enough quality for Levin. Of the four rooms - each bathroom and its section, and all of them are perfect in their design and uniqueness.
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A tribute to the Bedouin population living in the area.
The round bed in the "loft" room (photo: courtesy of Nof 64)
Succulent vegetation in the garden, next to water fountains (photo: courtesy of Nof 64)
Deer everywhere
Another suite in the villa is "Bronze Suite - Desert Fantasy".
She is the only one on the first floor, but the one I liked the most.
As its name suggests - the golden bronze color dominates it, from the yellowish bedspread, through straw fans and beige shades to a golden air conditioner that is pushed into a closet so that it does not disturb the eyes.
Even a yellow pineapple was there for decoration, and of course we "fell" on it lustily.
In this suite there is a wide blue double shower, which offers a shared shower, but still private for each couple, with their own shower and private rain shower head.
The other two rooms/suites are the "Salt Turquoise" suite dedicated to the Dead Sea - which is a huge room with a small sitting area, a huge wall closet and a bathroom facing the view, and another beautiful room called the "Zvi HaNegev Room" which is hard to miss from the varied design items that Levin has incorporated into it.
By the way, the deer are a recurring and charming motif in every room, and throughout the villa, various deer are scattered in a variety of styles and performances.
A very cool piece.
The golden bronze color dominates it.
"Bronze Suite - Desert Fantasy" (Photo courtesy of Nof 64)
Dedicated to the Dead Sea.
"Salt Turquoise" Suite (Photo: Courtesy of Nof 64)
In the pool: Dead Sea salt
Another regional element that Levin integrated into the villa is in the pool - where he put salt from the Dead Sea "which simulates the healthy bathing in the sea", he explains.
The pool is heated, of course, but not like the spacious jacuzzi, which bathes and adjusts to a temperature of 36-40 degrees and includes places for eight people.
The pool has many deckchairs, as well as a roof for the winter and an equipped barbecue area.
The view of the desert can be seen from her through the upside down tsiks pots.
Boils and includes places for eight people.
The jacuzzi in the villa (photo: courtesy of Nof 64)
Levin incorporated salt from the Dead Sea into the pool (photo: courtesy of Nof 64)
"The desert begins here in Arad at the end of our street"
Another motif that is present in the complex is the late writer Amos Oz. Beyond the bedroom that reminds of Oz's book, Levin integrated into the villa a tribute to the writer Haardi, who lived on Nof Street itself and also used to go to the bench at the end of the street that is on the edge of the desert, and probably also wrote about him in his book. A story about love and darkness": "Every morning, a little before or a little after sunrise, I'm used to going out to check what's new in the desert.
The desert begins here in Arad at the end of our street..." The villa is full of Oz's books in Hebrew and English arranged in the retro wooden library in the meeting room (yes, there is even a meeting room that doubles as a dining room). It is worth taking the trouble to get up a little before sunrise and walk 50 meters to Oz's bench - A single bench overlooking the desert - bring the book with you from the villa, open to page 348 and simply read the lines with which Oz describes that exciting moment.
Take "A Tale of Love and Darkness" with you there.
Amos Oz's bench (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
Like a fire that lights up the day.
The sunrise from the bench (photo: Ziv Reinstein)
The retro library in the meeting room, full of Oz's books (photo: courtesy of Nof 64)
Pamper, pamper, pamper
The attention to detail does not end only in the rooms.
In the large and long kitchen you will find oranges and a juicer, good breads, wine and beers from a boutique that leaves wine and even cheeses, a jar of caviar (!) and quail eggs for breakfast.
Yes, tiny quail eggs (5 eggs = one hen's egg) that are considered much healthier and more nutritious than regular eggs.
There is also an espresso machine, of course, lotus cookies, dishes, glasses of various types, plates and pots for whatever you want to cook, and if you come on the weekend so that you stock up in advance because Arad is closed on Shabbat, except for a "Delek" convenience store at the entrance to the city.
All this goodness can be rented for NIS 2,064 per night for a couple on weekdays, and for NIS 2,564 per night on the weekend (minimum two nights).
It is important to note that whoever rents the villa - rents the whole villa whether you are a couple or 13 people.
As the number of helens in it increases - so does the price, but it becomes much more affordable.
For example, four couples will pay NIS 7,640 - NIS 1,910 per couple for a night on the weekend. It's certainly not cheap, but the "value for money" you get is above board, if you count the facilities, treats, food, wine and beers and other things you suddenly discover (for example, A bottle of Glenfiddich 18 year old I found in the retro library with stylish whiskey glasses.
To complete the pampering, Levin suggests his guests book a local masseuse (Stauv Peretz, 054-7995378) who arrives at the villa with all the equipment, the oils, the sheets and a folding treatment bed (60 minutes = NIS 300).
And you can increase the indulgence even further and invite the house chef Guy Pistrov (052-4788198) to cook you an intimate meal, and if you fancy a tour of the area about Amos Oz and the desert - arrange with the local guide Zach Ben Natan.
In short, you will not be bored.
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In the 1970s, Arad was considered one of the newest and most attractive cities in Israel, and was defined as "the jewel in the crown of the Negev".
And if this is the case, it is possible that "Nof 64" is the "jewel in the crown of the villas".
Oranges for juice and other treats.
Yes, the kitchen is also a work of art (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
Quality Dead Sea products await in every bathroom.
And a pampering "scrub" brush (photo: Ziv Reinstein)
The hot tub is heated 24/7.
It is recommended to take a dip in the cold desert night (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
The conference room is also used as a dining room (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
The deer rules everywhere there.
The Negev Deer Room (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
The writer was a guest (of course) of "
Nof 64
" in Arad.
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