Remove the Screen
The main lobby of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, originally designed in 1969 by architects Dan Eytan and Yitzhak Yashar, underwent its first major transformation in decades. The project reorganized the public spaces across two levels: the ground floor included the renovation of the main lobby, museum shop, and conference room, while the lower level incorporated a renewed café and a new family wing. The renovation addressed a series of later interventions, most notably an angled glass screen added in the 1980s which had obscured the clarity of the original architecture and contributed to a dark and congested interior. The project sought to restore the spatial qualities of the original design, creating a more open, light-filled, and welcoming environment adapted to the needs of contemporary museum visitors.
A Dialogue Between Interior and Exterior
The design process, developed in collaboration with designer Reut Iron, focused on restoring the clarity of the original architecture. The later glass screen was removed to reveal the original concrete wing, the exposed concrete columns were rehabilitated, and the original flooring was uncovered and restored. At the same time, the program was reorganized to create a more intuitive circulation sequence. The museum shop now opens directly onto the public plaza, while the lower level accommodates a family activity center and a spacious café that opens onto the sculpture garden through full-height glazing. The project establishes a renewed dialogue between interior and exterior, enhancing the visitor experience while preserving and revealing the architectural qualities of the original building.
