baranowitz & goldberg completes new 'a' restaurant in tel aviv

‘a’ restaurant fuses japanese, european, and israeli cultures

baranowitz & goldberg, in collaboration with pitsou kedem, were commissioned to create a minimal and distinguished space that breathes light and sets the stage for the culinary ingenuity of israeli chef ben-neriah. completed in november 2021, ‘a’ restaurant envelopes a uniquely sober design language and sits within the second floor of the azrieli-sarona tower in tel aviv.

following the chef’s request, the idea here was to fuse japanese design heritage with european materiality and israeli flair to create a lively and elegant dining experience. it becomes ‘a culinary institute […] destined to offer a place to experience rich, timeless knowledge well blended with the chef’s interpretation and daring culinary innovations’, shares baranowitz & goldberg.

all images © amit geron

designing the space with broad and elegant gestures

to start, baranowitz & goldberg (see more here) and pitsou kedem (see works here) designed the restaurant entrance to reflect the heritage of japanese ceremonies and discovery experience. this allows guests to disengage from tel aviv’s chaotic streets and become immersed in a multi-sensory space. a curved wall first greets visitors and gently directs them to the door located at the end of an extended vestibule. at the same time, at waist level, a singular, oxidized aquamarine panel of varying textures and shapes harmonizes the dichotomy between hot and cold, spicy and sweet, salty and sour, to reflect the cuisine itself.

this bent wall is adjoined by a straight perpendicular wall melded together to materialize the convergence of a neo-classical colonnade and japanese-inspired concrete. meanwhile, around the bend of the curved wall is the main dining space, where the view opens up, revealing the totality of the architectural gesture while simultaneously encircling a private seating area.

partitioning the kitchen from the restaurant and stretching across the hall, the straight wall is the base of the half-arch that governs the entire space with one brush stroke. this classic architectural form, drawn directly from the existing proportions of the given area, is long, narrow and tall — evoking classic colonnades and churches. this main partition that defines the dining hall is divided into three parts, each fulfilling a specific role. at the base of the division is a graphic composition realized in turquoise copper patina cladding that speaks the language of the half-arch and recalls classic domed edifices and sculptures adorning western cities.

above this base stretches a long narrow window exposing the dynamic activity and creative culinary force beyond the wall, while above the middle layer, the half-arch jets outward. furhtermore, the entire western-directing wall of ‘a’ is ensnared in glass to allow natural light to pour in and illuminate the space at dusk. this feature also connects diners to the city itself at nighttime with beautiful, unobstructed views of tel aviv’s sarona complex and park, thus establishing a solid connection between the indoor and outdoor.

the end of the architectural view culminates in the sake library at the far end of the restaurant. the sake library is constructed with brushed aluminum, which defines the end of the space and functions as the backdrop of the restaurant’s central bar.

the seating experiences are also conceived as broad gestures and consist mainly of an elongated bar located in the center of the space. the dining tables are designed in the same language as the patina cladding and are made of aluminum plates in two different shaded finishes. within the restaurant also exists a private dining space that boasts an oversized table for communal gatherings and can convert into an even larger piece that can host up to 20 people.

light grey hues meet aquamarine green + earthy-wood tones

color wise, the architects used monochromatic shades of light warm grey and aquamarine green. both tones are elevated by aluminum-coated tables and earthy-wood chairs that draw inspiration from modern japanese architecture and aesthetics. the copper patina and wood of the dining chairs endow the space with accents of color, while the terrazzo grey floor introduces a sprinkle of green reminiscent of european materiality with a nod to local israeli heritage.

all in all, the restaurant ‘is a destiny fulfilled; a space that was created to feel as if it has existed for centuries,’ says sigal baranowitz, co-founder and principal at baranowitz & goldberg. ‘the process of manifesting 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. our process of re-sculpting two contrasting identities leads to the birth of a calm yet assertive space that is well suited to represent the gastronomical experience.’