Asif Culinary Institute of Israel

Asif is a new culinary center in Tel Aviv that operates under the umbrella of the Start-up Nation Central Foundation and is located on the ground floor of its office building (designed as well by Kimmel Eshkolot Architects). 

The space, which is housed in the former L28 restaurant, has been renovated to become a cultural center that includes a gallery for temporary exhibitions, a reading area, and a library with over a thousand cookbooks, culinary books, and gastronomy books.

The project converts the existing modern space into an eclectic urban space, combining different programs under one roof. The exhibition space is surrounded by seven-meter-high walls in a concrete-like finish.

The walls are used to define the exhibition space and at the same time allow eye contact with the cafe space.

The walls incorporate stainless steel hanging accessories, located at fixed distances, allowing flexibility in the planning, installation, and display of changing exhibitions without the need to close the space in favor of their construction.

The wooden library connects the cafe to the reading gallery and incorporates blue frame elements, and eclectic display tools all painted blue. The color is associated with the organization, strengthens the connection to it, and at the same time allows adding extreme color to the natural palette of materials.

The upper reading gallery overlooking the entire space includes seating areas and a bar for reading books, a display for reserved books, and a bridge that hovers between the floors allowing full access to the various books.

The cafe located on the entrance floor offers a variety of seating types - indoors and outdoors, Surrounded by vegetation.

At its center are a deli island and shelf libraries offering a wide variety of local produce.