Modern History

A sensitive update to this handsome heritage house has made it fresh and relevant for a family of six.

- Judy Pascoe

Uri Jeremias went through four architects before settling on, well, himself for the renovation of his hotel in the world heritage UNESCO site of Acre (Akko), an ancient port city in Israel and historically one of the key trade routes in the Mediterranean. Tucked amid the rambling, serpentine alleys of its peaceful, fortified Old City, the Efendi Hotel is surprisingly inconspicuous, a barely-there door leading from a narrow lane into a cavernous stone lobby.

An amalgamation of two Ottoman-era buildings and decrepit houses with Byzantine remains, Uri says his friends thought he was mad to take it on. “Restoring its unique qualities was important. Modern additions would have disturbed the harmony. I wanted people to go into this house and live in it like they had originally. I didn’t want to make it plastic fantastic.” Indeed, there is a residential-like quality to the property with 12 rooms opening into a common living area and a shared terrace with blue-hued floor cushions overlooking staggered rooftops and a spearmint minaret. It took Uri nearly nine years to renovate, sourcing mid-19th century furniture, vintage Ziegler carpets, Italian sofas and antique mother-of-pearl chairs from Syria. He even brought in Venetian artisans to restore the soaring ceilings, using sophisticated technology to paint-match heritage colours. A new wine cellar dates back to Crusader times and the 400-year-old hammam was put back into working order.