L28 Culinary Platform in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel by Kimmel Eshkolot Architects

Article source: Kimmel Eshkolot Architects

Start-Up Nation Central (SNC), an NGO whose mission is to connect the world to Israeli innovation, is launching L28 Culinary Platform, Israel's first chef accelerator restaurant. The restaurant is located on the ground floor of Start-Up Nation Central's new headquarters, designed by local architecture firm Kimmel Eshkolot Architects. L28 Culinary Platform will be operated by Yarzin-Sella Group (Cafe Italia, Magazzino, Taqueria). Named after its address on Tel Aviv's storied Lilienblum Street, the restaurant boasts an innovative culinary concept, which sees a new and promising Israeli chef take up residency in the kitchen every six months. The first chef in residency at L28 Culinary Platform is Shuli Wimer.

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

• Architects: Kimmel Eshkolot Architects
• Project: L28 Culinary Platform
• Location: Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
• Photography: Amit Geron
• Design Team: Etan Kimmel, Limor Amrani, More Gelfand, Yoav Ronat, Corvin Matei
• Lighting Design: Orly Avron Elkabas
• Contractor: A. Weiss
• Project Management: Yaron-Levy

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

L28 Culinary Platform is a unique venture in the Israeli culinary space: The idea is to promote young chefs who would not normally have the opportunity to open their own restaurant. Twice a year, a different chef will be tapped to take over the kitchen and will be granted full creative license to explore his or her own culinary concept. Chefs are provided with laboratory conditions, including mentoring by professional staff so they can create an experience in the best possible conditions. The goal is to provide an industry entry point for fresh Israeli culinary talent, and to highlight Israeli culinaryinnovation to local and foreign audiences. The Yarzin-Sella Group calls it “a platformfor young chefs who, after their stint at L28, have a shot at managing their own restaurant.”

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Kimmel Eshkolot Architects' interior planning divided the spacious interior of L28 Culinary Platform to serve its numerous functions. The double height of the space was emphasized through the installation of high wooden boards that fold towards Lilienblum Street and separate the the various seating areas through a scrolling curtain. The street facing entrance features a raised platform for lounge meetings and operates mainly during the day. The internal main seating area of the restaurant is visible from all angles and frames the open kitchen. Above the kitchen, rests the gallery and private room for events.

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

L28's interiors and finishings are based on natural and warm materials. Wooden cladding is featured prominently in the ceilings and furniture, while vegetation grows along an installed green wall and vertical agricultural planting in front of the kitchen. The visual scheme combines with the neutral materiality of a smoothed concrete floor made of resina and black steel. An urban farm was developed on the roof of the building that serves in the restaurant's farm-to-table setup, along with spice plants in the green wall for use in the beverage bar.

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Shuli Wimer, L28 Culinary Platform's first chef in residency, was born and raised in the Galilee region in the north of Israel. Ms. Wimer spent the last six years working at London's Michelin-starred River Cafe before returning to Israel. Her culinary concept is inspired by her roots in northern Israel, known for its agriculture and Galilee-style cooking. Her concept is based on her Italian culinary training, incorporating Galilean philosophy of eating off the land and eating in season. The dishes served at L28Culinary Platform incorporate fresh produce from the building's urban farm, with plates meant to be shared between diners.

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Aside from promoting young chefs, L28 Culinary Platform will offer a stage for local Israeli produce, either with raw materials from local growers or by offering only Israeli wines on the wine list. An urban farm on the building's roof will provide vegetation to serve the kitchen; A farm-to-table principle enriching the knowledge of the chefs about organic crops that could be incorporated into their dishes.

“Start-Up Nation Central's headquarters is a home for innovative Israeli technology companies. We thought it only natural to complement that with a home for innovative Israeli culinary entrepreneurs,” said Guy Hilton, SNC's General Manager

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Amit Geron

Image Courtesy © Kimmel Eshkolot Architects

Tags: Israel, Tel Aviv-Yafo

Categories: Bar, Interiors, Restaurant

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