The Andromeda House Experience
The House was designed with three levels spanning 750m. it includes a open rooftop (roofed during winter), a central space accessible through a magical garden and a large wine cellar. The design of the house incorporates various cultures and styles.
Your visit will begin at the entrance to the Old city, from Louie Pasteur Street. Stylized lanterns, bougainvilleas hanging from rooftops, blue wooden window shutters, all these will encompass you in the enchanted atmosphere of Old Jaffa. The path goes up the old merchants' pedestrian street, through the Zodiac alleys with its many craftsmen, under the Wishing Bridge, passed the gorgeous Orthodox Church of Saint George and towards the Crest Garden, where you can enjoy a 360-degrees view of Jaffa.
The Garden
From the Crest Garden the path continues towards a heavy iron gate – the gate to Andromeda House. The gate opens and leads you through a tunnel of white Jasmine towards a closed inner garden (roofed during winter). The first thing you will see is a wall of Geranium flowers, "The Cordoba Wall", inspired by the courtyards of the old Spanish city. In the middle of the garden is a stone fountain incorporated into a pool, where the water gurgle softly. On the right, an outburst of deep blue, the blue of sea. On the left, an old authentic Taboon oven (outdoor oven) was converted into a reception bar. There you can relax in a comfortable seating corner filled with soft pillows and white seats. Further away, palm trees and wooden decks are incorporated into a natural rockery steeped in evergreen Sumac plants. The upper wooden deck is filled with water and fish swim in a little pond on the side. Next to the Sumac plants are vines creating a Hellenistic-style vine arbor.
The Central Space
The entrance to the central space is from the garden, via a wide entryway . Stepping in, the guest immediately senses this is a home. The space provides seating areas including white-colored wooden tables on a walnut background and a lounge area situated on a dark parquet floor. The sofas are inviting and very comfortable. Unique, handmade lighting fixtures, made specifically for Andromeda House, are scattered throughout the lounge . the lighting fixtures stand on columns with stylized loop shaped iron fixtures. On the ceiling – chandeliers dimmed to the right extent, creating a soft warm light. The big glass windows look to the sea and the coastline, and allow the scenery in. Arm-chairs are situated at an angle to allow view of the coastline and the sea visible from every direction.
The Rooftop
A wide staircase leads to the roof. The roof is of course open during summertime and roofed during wintertime. Here you can fully sense the intensity of the sea. The rooftop is surrounded by a stone wall, steeped in cool sea breeze, with an open panoramic view over one of Israel's most delightful spot. During winter the experience is as delightful. The roof is closed, creating a warm feeling, and windows let in the view of the clouds above the coastline and the stormy sea.
The Wine Cellar
Coming down from the central space to the bottom floor you enter an intimate, dark, smoky space, decorated by a Viennese street lantern. The cellar is designed with a different light – a cognac-colored glass lighting. In the center of the space is a huge knights table, custom-made for Andromeda House. Wine shelves on the wall and the adjacent seating corners create a wine and cognac area.
From this space you can exit through a iron-riveted wooden door to a plaza at the front of the house. This plaza is actually a part of the street circling Old Jaffa. The façade of the house opposite the sea, along with the blue window shutters, the turquoise door and the white pergola on the roof create a pastoral, scenic picture which blends in with the many colors of Old Jaffa.
One of the Finest Images in Israel
Deep blue sea, Andromeda's Rock in the depth of the sea, fishing boats, the cry of the seagulls, church steeples and the sound of bells, blue stone domes, stone pavements, artists' stalls, the sunset mirrored in the far glass walls of the new Tel-Aviv office building, the coastline visible all the way to Herzliya. All these are like colorful brush strokes creating one of the finest, most beautiful images in Israel. This Image is what won our hearts when we decided to open Andromeda House, it is what made us want to create, build and incorporate the magic with the quality and beauty.
