‍A Philosophy of Connection

At the heart of Arad’s work lies a philosophy of connection. Every project begins with a deep exploration of its setting. The land, its history, its people—all become active collaborators in the design process. “I design universals,” she explains, “but each creation must be deeply connected to its roots.”

Arad’s philosophy is evident in her ability to weave cultural narratives into physical spaces. For her, architecture is a sensory language that evokes emotion and memory. Each element—light, texture, material—is chosen with intention, creating spaces that feel both grounding and transcendent.

Kedma Hotel: Echoes of the Spice Route

In Israel’s Negev Desert, the Kedma Hotel emerges as a modern interpretation of a Nabatean caravanserai, a stopping point for traders along the ancient Spice Route. The design does more than acknowledge the region’s history—it embodies it.

The hotel’s sand-colored plaster walls and rounded corners allow the structure to merge seamlessly with the desert landscape. Inside, natural materials such as stone, wood, and clay echo the simplicity and resourcefulness of desert life. Niches in the walls invite moments of quiet reflection, reminiscent of past times when nomads gathered in caves: Those gave the opportunity for guests to cross into another dimension in time.

The interplay of light and shadow enhances the sensory experience. Fixtures are designed to mimic the flicker of torchlight, casting soft, shifting patterns across the walls. As guests move through the space, they follow pathways that echo ancient trade routes, leading to a central pool designed as an oasis. In Kedma, the desert is not just a backdrop—it becomes an integral part of the story.

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Reches Hotel: Ascending Toward Light

In Jerusalem, a city layered with history and spirituality, Arad’s Reches Hotel captures the essence of ascension. The design centers on a seven-story atrium, where light intensifies as it rises. This carefully orchestrated interplay of architecture and light mirrors the city’s spiritual significance, offering guests a journey that feels both physical and symbolic.

Throughout the hotel, subtle nods to Jerusalem’s heritage abound. All-White railings, shaped like leaf crowns, symbolic of the Torah, as a crown of wisdom. Rooms are arranged to frame panoramic views of the Old City, ensuring that Jerusalem’s iconic skyline is not merely a backdrop but an active participant in the guest experience. Mirrors are strategically placed to reflect and amplify these views, creating a sense of continuity between the interior and exterior.

The Reches Hotel is more than a place to stay—it is a meditation on Jerusalem’s enduring significance, offering guests a space to reflect, ascend, and reconnect.

Pundak Ramon: A Cosmic Retreat

Set near the Ramon Crater, a UNESCO-designated Starlight Reserve, Pundak Ramon takes its cues from the celestial wonder of the night sky. Arad’s redesign transforms the hotel into an immersive experience where earth and cosmos converge.

Room interiors are inspired by the tones and textures of the desert. Beds rest on elevated platforms, while wall niches add depth and visual contrast. Above, ceilings adorned with constellations of stars and lunar-inspired light fixtures evoke the mystery and magic of the universe. In the lounge, a CNC-cut steel ceiling captures the drama of a meteor shower, inviting guests to lose themselves in contemplation.

Public spaces extend this celestial theme with earthy, African-inspired touches—wood, printed textiles, and eclectic furnishings. The result is a space that feels both grounded and expansive, inviting guests to explore the infinite beauty of the desert and stars.

Materiality and Emotion: The Language of Arad’s Spaces

What sets Arad apart is her ability to craft spaces that resonate on a sensory level. Materiality becomes a bridge between the tangible and the emotional. At Kedma, natural materials like clay and wood create a tactile connection to the desert. In Reches, copper and light transform the hotel into a celebration of Jerusalem’s spiritual energy. At Pundak Ramon, textures and lighting bring the vastness of the night sky into intimate focus.

Lighting, in particular, plays a significant role in her designs. It is never merely functional but is used to evoke mood and meaning. Warm, diffused lighting creates intimacy, while carefully calibrated apertures allow natural light to shift and evolve throughout the day, echoing the rhythms of the natural world.

From Vision to Reality: Collaboration in Execution

Arad’s poetic vision is brought to life through her partnerships with different collaborators, among them White Space, who specialize in translating her concepts into reality. At Kedma, there was a visionary execution required to construct niches that emulate desert rocks with precision, ensuring they felt both authentic and durable. At Reches, copper railings were engineered to capture the essence of ancient craftsmanship while meeting modern standards. And at Pundak Ramon, intricate celestial patterns were crafted into ceilings, bringing Arad’s cosmic vision to life.

This meticulous attention to detail ensures that every project feels seamless, as though the space was always meant to exist.

A New Era of Hospitality

Arad’s work represents a shift in hospitality design, where connection replaces opulence as the ultimate luxury. Her spaces are not about excess but about meaning—creating environments that offer guests a sense of place, wonder, and discovery.

Through her thoughtful integration of material, light, and narrative, Arad redefines what it means to design for hospitality. Her hotels are not merely destinations; they are experiences that transform, inviting guests to see the world—and themselves—in a new light.

A Legacy of Place

Ruth Arad’s work transcends the boundaries of architecture, offering spaces that resonate deeply with their surroundings and the people who inhabit them. Each project is a meditation on the relationship between people and place, time, and memory. Through her designs, she reminds us that great architecture does more than shelter—it inspires. Her hotels are journeys in themselves, where every detail invites exploration, reflection, and connection. In Arad’s world, architecture becomes a bridge between the past and the present, the earth, and the stars, the individual and the infinite.