In an apartment the mamad arrives ready-made, where the developer's architect put it. In a private house the decision is entirely yours — and since this is a nine-square-metre concrete box that cannot be moved afterwards, it is one of the decisions most worth getting right the first time.
Two very different starting points
In a new build
Here the mamad is barely an extra cost. It is poured with the frame, uses the same crane, the same crew and the same concrete pump, so the net addition is far smaller than it appears. It also fits the plan from the outset instead of being imposed on it. See structural works and building a private house.
In an existing house
Here it is a project in its own right: a new foundation, a connection to the existing structure, and almost always a loss of garden or of part of the house. Cost and complexity are significantly higher and the schedule is long. See building addition.
Where to put it
Three considerations conflict, and they have to be settled early:
- Time to reach it. The practical rule is that everyone in the house must reach the mamad within the time your area allows. In a two-storey house that means a ground-floor mamad does not solve the upper floor.
- Everyday use. A mamad somewhere convenient becomes a real room — an office, a guest room, a child's room. A mamad in a dead corner becomes a store, and that wastes nine expensive square metres.
- Structure. A rigid concrete box inside a building affects the foundation system and the way the structure behaves. The position needs an engineer's approval, not only an architectural preference. See structural engineering.
A mamad on the upper floor
In a two-storey house, a mamad on the upper floor is usually the right answer — that is where the bedrooms are, and where people are at the hours when reaching it quickly matters most. It means loading considerable weight onto the floor below, so it needs columns and beams sized for it, decided at frame stage.
In a house where both floors are fully used, two protected spaces are worth examining. It costs more, and it is what makes the house genuinely usable in an emergency.
What it does to the plan
- The walls cannot be changed. No opening can be made in them, not now and not in ten years.
- The window is small and heavy. The room will be darker than an ordinary room of the same size — a consideration if it is intended as a bedroom.
- The box affects what is above and below it. Concrete walls 25 cm thick continue vertically through the building.
- Recognised area. A mamad is treated separately in area calculations — check this with the committee at planning stage, because it affects what is left for you to build.
Cost and schedule
In a new build, the net addition of a mamad to the frame is usually ILS 40,000 to 80,000, depending on size, floor and complexity. As an addition to an existing house the range runs from ILS 90,000 to 180,000 and up, because a foundation, a connection, scaffolding and often difficult plant access are all required. The schedule for an addition to an existing house is three to six months including the permit, and most of that time is the permit.
FAQ
Is a mamad compulsory in a new private house?
A protected space is required in a new building permit. The extent and the details depend on the building type and the area — the local authority is the binding address. See building permit.
Can a mamad be underground?
A protected space in a basement is possible under conditions, and requires particular attention to drainage, ventilation and escape. See basement.
Can the mamad serve as a bedroom?
Yes, and it is the most common use. Pay attention to daylight and ventilation at planning stage. See safe room design.
How we work
Bramy Group accompanies private houses from frame to finish, including planning the mamad's position with the engineer while it can still be changed. Active in central and southern Israel. Get in touch.