Raanan Stern: studio

Israeli architect Raanan Stern designed in Tel Aviv a versatile 20 square-meter room in an artist’s apartment to accommodate living and working spaces.

In the artist’s central Tel Aviv apartment, architects Ranaan Stern and Shany Tal from Raanans Stern’s Studio designed a versatile 20sqm studio workspace.

The artist’s varied family and personal collection includes pieces dating from the 1940’s to the present. Every piece that was going be stored was measured: they were organized and ordered according to groups, sizes and artistic connections.

After the organizational and calculation stage, four separate proportions were discovered that receive expression as each section is opened. Every cell, cupboard or drawer was designed internally according to the required proportions, only when the drawer is opened the colorful mosaic of the storage section is revealed. In addition, different sections were planned and built for displaying and storing work, tools and materials.

The smaller sections can be removed from the larger frame units and placed on the table during work. Removable sliding doors are actually pallets that pieces can be placed on for presentation or that can be used as modular easels.

The closets and units are made of white birch as well as the flooring which is covered in bright birch tiles. The wood was coated lightly in order to give a light and delicate feeling, but still retaining the slightly wizened look of natural wood in the work space. The artist uses the space to host colleagues and behind the sliding doors there is also a folding bed for the dual functionality of the room.