Nobody wants to live in a Mediterranean villa, says Gideon Tadmor, director general of Cohen Development-Darad. The company is building the neighborhood of Ramot Hasharon, which will be comprised of 551 private houses. Ninety percent of the purchasers chose the American model, a two-family house with a tiled roof. That s what they want. Nobody wants a white, flat roof like the kind you see on the coast of Greece and Italy.
Most people also ask for a fireplace, in case the temperature drops below zero someday.
None of the buyers wanted small windows, which help keep the house cool on the hot summer days. They solve the heat problem with the aid of air conditioners, which cost a lot of money to buy and use. The Israeli dream is the American dream, Tadmor continues, even though we live on the shores of the Mediterranean. The average Israeli wants to live in a large house with many levels and a swimming pool, like the one he saw in the movies or on television. That type of house isn t suitable for our climate or lifestyle, but that s what the people want.