BK Architects were appointed to complete the hospitality design of Jaffa restaurant in Tel Aviv, Israel. This restaurant is owned by Haim Cohen – the first celebrity chef of Israel.

The restaurant design reflects the culinary traditions found in Israel. Cohen saw the potential of this concept thus it became the starting point considering the richness of this tradition. Touched by originality and uniqueness, the beautiful restaurant bears honesty and subtle beauty of simplicity in its design reflecting the sheer freshness and inventiveness of traditional cuisine. As Cohen reinvents the Israel cuisine, the design of the restaurant also bears witness to his innovative ideas yet he always pays respect to its history and roots.

The amazing restaurant has been completed by BK Architects and the concept began at the very moment that Cohen wanted to express the spirit of his kitchen. By using Cohen’s view – honesty and simplicity – of his cuisine, BK Architects designed the restaurant interiors revolving around the same perceptions and ideas. The materials utilized within the restaurant space include water, cement, steel and aggregates – which are the core foundation of the building. These materials demonstrate Cohen’s cuisine – water, olive oil and flour.

The true nature of stone aggregates was revealed through the exposed concrete walls that were polished. The concrete floors and ceiling were left intact and untouched.

Different culinary ingredients from various places inspired the mixing of design elements combined harmonically together. The cultural phantasmagoria of the restaurant is represented by the Turkish carpets that hung on the restaurant walls. The carpet pieces reveal their own unique story, identity and land.

There is also the tall poplar wood shutters that face the west façade allowing natural light to play magically within the restaurant interiors – this can be found locally on the alleys of Old Jaffa. Smart furnishings and excellent choice of furniture including the scrap-wood chairs and tables together allowed the design to stand out rather uniquely. The Jaffa restaurant in Tel Aviv is an embodiment of the word – hospitality. Utilizing second-hand furniture pieces and outdoor light allowed simple yet beautiful sophistication representing varying cultures.

The open kitchen positioned slightly away from the raw metal winery and the alcohol bar allows customers to marvel the beauty of cuisine creation and watch as the chef demonstrates his own unique show. Rarely does this happen to restaurants of today and seeing this active design in Jaffa allowed us to toy with innovative ideas of our own.

 

Images Courtesy of BK Architects, Photographer: Amit Geron

Posted by JackieAzuela at 16 April, 2012

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