Israel-based firm Baranowitz & Goldberg Architects has unveiled its design of a new restaurant—simply dubbed “a”—situated across the second floor of Tel Aviv’s Azrieli-Sarona Tower. Conceived to evoke the heritage of Japanese ceremonies and incite exploration, “a” serves as respite from the bustle of the city.
“’a’ is a personal interpretation and daring culinary innovation that serves a deeper meaning in the Tel Aviv hospitality landscape and pushes the ball forward to create elevated spaces and ambitious gastronomy that celebrates the ingenuous attitude of this city at large,” say Baranowitz & Goldberg principals Sigal Baranowitz and Irene Goldberg. “Chef Ben-Neriah’s idea to fuse Japanese and Western cultures into a slick lively elegance drove us to draw upon classic architectural idioms of form and matter in these two cultures, and resculpt them to create a calm yet assertive space and experience.”
A curved wall greets visitors at the end of an elongated vestibule where an oxidized aquamarine panel of varying textures and shapes evokes the duality of hot and cold, spicy and sweet, and salty and sour in the cuisine. Another perpendicular wall is melded together to materialize the convergence of a Neo-Classical colonnade and Japanese-inspired concrete.
The main dining room is wrapped in monochromatic shades of light warm gray and aquamarine, and accented by aluminum-coated tables and earthen wood chairs detailed with patinaed copper—further reinforcing Japanese design aesthetics atop green terrazzo floors. A straight wall that partitions diners from the kitchen injects a sculptural quality into the space, while an opposite glass wall bathes the interior in natural light and frames views of the city and nearby parkland.
At one end of the space, a dramatically backlit sake library composed of brushed aluminum serves as a backdrop for the restaurant’s central bar. A private dining space is also featured, anchored by an oversized communal table that accommodates up to 20 guests.
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