Derby bar dagim | Nir Portal architect

Derby bar dagim restaurant is housed in Ashkelon's marine navel and its glass showcases feature yacht masts that create a pastoral view that overlooks the mall's presence.

From that point and our need for escapism to other imaginary districts, others than a shopping mall, we built a design concept for a fish restaurant that hosts in a fishing boat repair shop.

The space is a poetic connection and bridge connecting fishing boats with people who are worried that they will continue to function. The space incorporates elements from the world of fishing marinas and hangars such as containers, cranes, nets, worn tin cladding, and exposed concrete walls that give a sense of authenticity and industrial feel.

Two full size fishing boats are hoisted up like crane-mounted vehicles to handle their bottom.

The lighting fixtures were designed to look like a lifting crane and the material they are made from matched to old oil-soaked metal. Iron nets and old-fashioned wooden bars become a frame to a massive open kitchen.

The entire bar was implanted into a shipping container that underwent surgical surgery and was cut throughout, the lower part used for seating bar and the upper part elevated and serving as a floating ceiling. The entire ceiling is filled with Edison bulbs as an image for vintage ceilings that were entrance halls for past cinemas.

Washing hands area walls were covered with blue ceramic that resembles an old-fashioned public pool.

Furniture character and style were also selected to match the period spirit and the use of the place and outdated Formicas were selected carefully.

The infrastructure of the place remained exposed and some of the concrete walls were painted with dramatic graffiti as a tribute to artist Josh Case. As with a garage floor, the floor is a smoothed concrete floor.

Photos:  Eran Ben-baruch Gotesmaan

Graffiti artist and head designer at my office: Alexey Razmahnin