From Chickens to Millions: The Incredible Story of the Coop Turned Into An Empire

Xnet

From Clucking Chickens to Workplace Chatter: The Evolution of an Abandoned Chicken Coop in Judea and Samaria

Ze’ev Epstein, a developer behind many settlements in Judea and Samaria, opened a stylish co-working space in Kfar Etzion that operates 24/7. Now, following full occupancy, the success is expanding to a second coop.

By Esther Neir

Just over two years ago, young real estate entrepreneur Ze’ev Epstein—who, at just over 40, has already developed numerous residential neighborhoods in settlements—visited Kfar Etzion in search of a suitable site for a new senior living project. The kibbutz suggested the old chicken coop complex, vacated years earlier due to an avian flu outbreak. Epstein looked at the first coop—one of four elongated, abandoned structures—and decided it wasn’t right for that project. Yet, in that moment, he also realized he’d found the perfect location for another dream: a WeWork-style co-working space in Judea and Samaria.

The design emphasized maintaining a strong connection to the kibbutz’s natural surroundings. The "Lulim" (Coops) workspace is encircled by a large yard featuring seating areas overlooking the other coops and nearby vineyards, as well as ping-pong tables and a barbecue grill ("Epstein brought it himself, and he occasionally comes here to grill," says site manager Lilach Weinstock). Large windows frame the scenic view for those working indoors, while the hallways are adorned with cactus-themed wallpaper to retain a distinctly local, kibbutz-inspired vibe, even under fluorescent lighting.

The decision to transform the coop stemmed not only from its basic structure and its location in Gush Etzion—15 minutes from Jerusalem, in a densely populated area full of professionals—but also from the word "coops" itself, evoking the image of a large, bustling space filled with workplace chatter, akin to a chicken coop or the study halls of the yeshiva Epstein once attended.

This concept inspired the first request made to Avital Weil and Shira Rapfeld, co-founders of the "Avital & Shira" design studio, who were tasked with bringing Epstein’s vision to life. "The request was for all the workspaces in the complex to share a single ceiling so the noise would spread and create constant energy," they explain. Ultimately, however, this idea was abandoned after it became clear that clients preferred more privacy.

In every other way, the design stayed true to the coop concept. The goal was to bring the vibe of Wall Street—or at least Tel Aviv—into the heart of the kibbutz and Judea and Samaria, while harmonizing the interior and exterior. Materials were chosen to match the surroundings and included chicken wire, prominent use of iron and glass, and wood-chip-inspired elements.

The Lulim workspace offers areas of varying sizes, from open-space computer stations to relatively large private offices. Tenants include a law firm, an advertising agency, a publishing house, and Lev HaOlam, a company co-owned by Epstein that markets products from the Holy Land to evangelical Christians in the United States.

There are also flexible-use spaces, such as a repurposed yellow-painted shipping container in the central area. The container’s interior is lined with OSB wood panels and houses two secluded meeting rooms. Additionally, there are rows of colorful, tiny phone booths designed for private conversations.

The project, or what is now referred to as Phase 1, required an investment of approximately 7 million shekels. A significant portion of the budget went toward modernizing the space with advanced amenities, including electricity, water, fiber optics, and other infrastructure. To preserve the original terrazzo floor of the coop, the design incorporated these upgrades into the ceiling instead.

All the office furniture was custom-ordered from a factory in Ukraine, which Epstein and the designers visited together. Other elements mix custom-made pieces with purchases from IKEA. As for the large aquarium in the public space, Epstein wanted to place a shark inside. For now, he’s had to settle for smaller fish with a shark-like appearance but less impressive size.

The 900-square-meter Lulim complex was fully rented out in no time. Aside from one or two open-space desks, occupancy has been near-full since opening, not just in terms of space but also hours of operation. Some tenants conduct business with the U.S. or China, making late-night kitchen meetups or finding tech workers napping on sofas at 5 a.m. common occurrences. These interactions often lead to unexpected networking opportunities and business collaborations.

While not officially offered, some tenants have been granted permission to use the space during weekends or quiet hours for private events. "Ultimately," Weinstock explains, "this isn’t just a one-time real estate transaction but an ongoing relationship."

The full occupancy and a growing waitlist, along with existing tenants requesting expansions, led to the decision to enlarge the first coop by 600 square meters (currently under construction) while preparing the second coop for future use.

Designers Avital and Shira approach the second coop with greater experience but anticipate new demands. "When marketing the first coop, many therapists inquired about joining, but the developers felt it wasn’t the right fit," they explain. "Now, we’re considering dedicating a coop to therapeutic professionals, which would require a different design approach to accommodate clients needing privacy or specialized tools."

Meanwhile, a large commercial center just meters away has expanded recently, offering convenient options for food delivery and errands. While the initial idea was to cater to Gush Etzion residents who commute daily to work in Jerusalem or central Israel, it quickly became clear that tenants were also arriving from Jerusalem, southern Hebron, and even Modi’in—professionals opting to move against the flow of traffic. With the coops proving a golden opportunity for Epstein, the vision is now to increase urban interest, or as Weinstock puts it, "turn Kfar Etzion into Jerusalem’s answer to Shefayim."

Graphic Design: Logo and branded wallpapers, Studio 02

Flooring and Sanitary Fixtures: Bar Ami

Lighting: Alpina

Sofas and Armchairs: Sisra

Wallpaper: Dekor Tapet

Outdoor Furniture: Penthouse

Office Furniture: ENRAN

Curtains: Blinds Us

Aquarium: A.B. Coral Luxury Aquariums

Captions (in order):

1. The Lulim complex in Kibbutz Kfar Etzion. Originally intended to serve Gush Etzion residents by providing a workspace closer to home, it now attracts clients from Jerusalem, southern Hebron, and even Modi’in. The 900-square-meter space was fully leased in no time. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

2. This is the first coop to be converted, designed by Avital Weil and Shira Rapfeld. It houses a law firm, an advertising agency, a publishing house, and Lev HaOlam, a company marketing Holy Land products globally, primarily to evangelicals. Workers can even be found here at 3 a.m., collaborating with clients in the U.S. or China. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

3. Large windows face the kibbutz landscape, and the coop's original terrazzo floor has mostly been preserved. Electrical and communication infrastructure was integrated into the ceiling. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

4. A container placed in the central area was painted yellow, lined internally with wood chip panels, and equipped with two private meeting rooms. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

5. In addition to the original floor, the new materials also reflect the surroundings: chicken wire, iron beams, and cage-style lamps. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

6. Above, under the roof, is a shared open workspace. Approximately 7 million shekels were invested in the project. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

7. Cactus-patterned wallpaper was chosen for the hallways to maintain the atmosphere under fluorescent lighting. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

8. Colorful, tiny phone booths are intended for private calls. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

9. The renovated "Lulim" complex is surrounded by a large yard with seating areas and a barbecue grill. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

10. Plans are underway for a second coop, likely to be dedicated to therapeutic professionals. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

11. The shared kitchen. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

12. The cactus hallway leading to the private offices. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

13. The large aquarium was a dream of developer Ze’ev Epstein. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

14. The large meeting room. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

15. And one of the smaller, more private meeting rooms. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

16. Yellow accents are featured throughout different parts of the complex. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

17. Near-full occupancy and 24/7 operations. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)

18. "The goal is to make Kfar Etzion the Shefayim of Jerusalem," says the manager. (Photo: Moshi Gitlis)