Pitaro Showroom
Pitaro Showroom was co-created by Baranowitz & Goldberg Architects and Pitsou Kedem Architects. Established by artisan Moshe Pitaro in 1962, and run by his daughter and son-in-law, Pitaro has been one of Israel's leading office furniture importers for over 50 years. In addition, as their passion for design and artisanship runs deep, the company developed unique manufacturing capabilities including a specialization in molded plywood furniture.
The challenge was two-fold. First to detach it experientially from its harsh industrial surrounding, as it is located in the heart of Hulon's old industrial zone; and secondly to create a space with an assertive architectural presence while being elegant and enabling as a backdrop for the furniture is exhibits.
With the showroom being Pitaro's main offices as well as a showroom, the space was clearly divided to private areas for the offices on the entrance floor and mezzanine, and public open spaces for the showroom on the entrance level.
The architecture is sculpted of monochromatic plains that vary in angles and shapes. As the space in its entirety is made of grey cement micro-topping, and completely closed-off from the outside, the boundaries between floor wall and ceiling dissolve. One of the ceiling plains acts as an artificial skylight, stretching all along the main space, drawing one to enter, leave the exterior world outside and embrace the unexpected experience.
The large sculpted partition, separating the private offices from the showroom carries the cantilevered stairway to the mezzanine level, from which a beautiful framed view of the showroom is exposed.
The other separating element designed for the space is a tribute to Pitaro's tradition of plywood molding. A wood library hovering in space on stainless steel cables was designed to be made by Pitaro. New molds were created to bend the wood shelves, and the installation was assembled on site by no other than the owner himself.
The space promotes a very strong sense of design while leaving much stage room for the designed items it is displaying.
