Between Sea and Sky: The Penthouse in Haifa Where Every Detail Was Chosen in Milan

Some homes are built around an architectural plan. Others are woven from a complete philosophy of living. The duplex penthouse designed by architect Chadi Daher in Haifa belongs unmistakably to the second category. The apartment spans approximately 180 sq m (1,940 sq ft) and was built for a couple — a physician and a doctoral researcher — and their three children: a family with a genuine understanding of design, one that follows leading global trends and knew exactly what it was looking for.
The penthouse occupies the fifth and sixth floors of the building, but its position on a hill overlooking Haifa's open landscape and the sea gives it the feeling of a home suspended between sea and sky. The panoramic view became one of the central elements of the design — from nearly every space in the home, the horizon line, the mountain, and the sea are visible.
"From the very first moment it was clear this was an exceptional project," says Daher. "These are clients with a very deep understanding of the design world — people who are constantly exposed to what's happening globally and know how to appreciate quality. They weren't looking for a showy home, but a precise one, where every detail was chosen with intention."
Design decisions were made in full collaboration with the owners, with a significant portion of the furniture, lighting, and accessories selected during two joint trips to Milan, which Daher made together with the couple. During these visits, they chose the kitchen, the living room seating systems, the dining area, the children's rooms, the master suite, outdoor furniture, rugs, and finishing design pieces. "The clients wanted to be part of every decision," he explains. "We traveled to Milan together twice, moving between showrooms and leading brands, selecting each item with care. Even the tableware and serving pieces were chosen as part of the home's overall story."
According to Daher, one of the couple's central requests was to create a home with no accidental objects. "Here, everything was chosen with tweezers. Even a book placed on a table is not merely a decorative object. Every item has meaning, and every detail contributes to the overall experience."
The penthouse is divided across two floors. The lower floor is dedicated to family life and entertaining. It includes a generous living room, a large kitchen, a dining area, a terrace, and a private pool overlooking the open landscape. On the same floor, three separate suites were designed for the children, alongside a shared sitting area that gives them their own independent space for gathering, hosting, and spending time together.
The upper floor is dedicated entirely to the parents and functions as a private home within the home. It includes a spacious master suite, two separate walk-in closets, a home office, and a luxurious bathroom — all enjoying open views and a sense of complete privacy.
The design language chosen for the home is built on a monochromatic palette of black and white, with subtle touches of green that add depth and softness. "We didn't want to overload with color," says Daher. "The base is clean, elegant, and timeless, and the green appears in precise doses — in accent furniture, textiles, the TV wall, outdoor pieces, and additional elements throughout the home."
One of the project's most distinctive features is the use of continuous materiality to create a sense of flow between spaces. The kitchen's central stone cladding extends to the TV wall and spans a significant portion of the public floor. The fireplace was also designed as part of the same material language, with its marble cladding continuing the architectural line and reinforcing a sense of unity and precision.
The home features an extensive range of Italy's leading design brands, including a Modulnova kitchen, Poliform cabinetry systems, and furniture selected during visits to Milan Design Week. One of the key living room pieces was acquired after the owners and Daher encountered it during the fair and decided to incorporate it into the project. The choice of international brands was not driven by a desire to project luxury, but by an uncompromising pursuit of quality, precise materiality, and long-term durability.
Despite the exceptional investment, Daher believes the project's success is not measured by brands or design objects. "True luxury is not the name on the furniture — it's the feeling the home gives to the people who live in it. When all the materials, the views, the lighting, the proportions, and the furniture come together, what emerges is a home that holds stillness. This is a home where not a single decision was made without thought, and that is precisely what makes it so special."

The apartment spans approximately 180 sq m (1,940 sq ft) and occupies the fifth and sixth floors of the building