Before us stands The Green Villa a testament to Tel Aviv’s layered history. This unassuming building holds a story far richer than its tranquil facade suggests. Initially known as the Green House it belonged to Abu Kheel Ibrahim in the village of Sheikh Muwannis.
After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War Jewish forces occupied Sheikh Muwannis. They used many village houses as military safe havens. The Green House became a Lehi headquarters. For decades after homeless Jewish settlers found refuge within its walls.
In the 1990s Tel Aviv University controversially expanded its campus. The university chose to reconstruct The Green Villa instead of demolishing it. They used architectural plans by Italian architect Camillo Manfredi. This reconstruction unfortunately altered the house’s original form transforming it into a building described as Oriental-type.
For many years The Green Villa served as a faculty club for Tel Aviv University. It was even mentioned in the university’s official documents. They highlighted the building’s survival from Ottoman times through the British Mandate and into the Israeli era. Ironically the university never acknowledged the plight of the village’s original inhabitants.
After further renovation projects the building now houses private organizations. It has a new name Camillo but its past as The Green Villa in Sheikh Muwannis remains a poignant and significant part of Tel Aviv’s complex narrative. The Green Villa stands as a symbol of both displacement and resilience a silent witness to the city’s transformation. The Green Villa’s story is a reminder that beneath the surface of modern Tel Aviv lies a rich and often troubled past. This past shapes the present and informs our understanding of the city’s vibrant identity.