A Financial Office in Israel Blends Classic and Modern Touches

Designed by KOT Architects and YOOLOPP, a financial consultancy office in Tel Aviv, Israel features a blend of classic and modern touches.

May 7, 2025 - 17:57
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A Financial Office in Israel Blends Classic and Modern Touches

A Financial Office in Israel Blends Classic and Modern Touches

Most offices for financial firms prioritize service over style in staid surroundings. For an accounting consultancy in the greater Tel Aviv area, KOT Architects and YOOLOPP  partnered to design the company’s space with a fresh take on a finance office. Dubbed THE LEDGER, in a nod to the transactions that take place within, the architects emphasized an interplay between traditional and contemporary elements in the surprisingly luxe workplace.

Modern living room with a curved beige sofa, glass coffee table, spiral staircase, patterned floor, built-in shelves, and glass wall separating an office area.

Spanning the entire 12th floor, centuries-old buildings in London and Paris served as inspiration for THE LEDGER. “The client wanted the office to evoke European classical banking institutions combined with a hospitality feel,” says Kfir Galatia Azulay, founder of KOT Architects. He set the tone at the threshold, where visitors are greeted by exquisite stonework as they enter the lobby.

A modern living area with a tan sofa, round glass coffee table, dark wood accents, and a large spiral staircase in the background.

Modern living room with a curved beige sofa, dark glass coffee tables, and built-in wooden shelves featuring books, decor, and geometric accents.

There are diverse sectors tailored to a range of monetary business activities, including offices for management and lounges reminiscent of hotel salons. Unlike corporate settings with closed-off areas, transparency is key here. Conference rooms are surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass partitions to provide just enough privacy while maintaining a sense of openness.

A modern kitchen with dark wood cabinets, black backsplash, a small round table with two chairs, and a white spiral staircase in the foreground.

Rich textures and geometric motifs create movement, even underfoot. The flooring, a graphic combination of white marble and black granite, echoes the polished tiles of old depositories. The wizard bank, Gringotts, depicted in a Harry Potter movie, was particularly memorable to the architect. Complete with gleaming floors, columns, and chandeliers. Azulay captured that same essence, balancing grandeur with a touch of whimsy.

A modern interior featuring a gray spiral staircase, geometric black-and-white flooring, and a dining area with a long table and chairs near large windows with sheer curtains.

A modern interior features a white spiral staircase, geometric black and white flooring, glass partition walls, and contemporary furniture in a neutral color palette.

The steel spiral staircase (one of two) at the heart of the office leads up to a spacious rooftop terrace with a coffee bar, where employees often take their breaks during the day. This outdoor area is an extension of the workspace, and is utilized for alfresco meetings and events.

Modern office interior with glass-walled meeting room, wooden desk, shelves, and contemporary seating on a patterned tile floor.

A modern office with wood paneling, a sculptural wooden desk, a curved beige chair, and open shelving dividing the space. Marble flooring features bold geometric patterns.

Modern office with dark wood furniture, a sculptural desk, built-in cabinets, open shelves, and a marble backsplash. Neutral color palette with black and white flooring.

Modern office interior with glass walls, two meeting rooms furnished with tables and chairs, patterned floor, and natural light coming through sheer curtains.

A curated selection of plush lounge furniture is found throughout the interior, by brands like Roche Bobois and Ditre Italia. Custom elements are in the mix, too, from rugs to millwork. The color palette complements the natural tones of the darker wood, rounded out with tints of beige and cream. The team wanted to reference the iconic banker’s lamp and its signature emerald shade without formulating an exact replica. In an updated twist, a fresh sage hue was chosen and placed on wall cladding.

Modern conference room with a long table, six beige chairs, two table lamps, decorative objects, and sheer curtains covering large windows.

A modern conference room with a black oval table, two gray chairs, an open book, wood herringbone flooring, and a green paneled wall.

Modern living room viewed through glass walls, featuring a spiral staircase, round sofa, built-in wooden shelves, and a circular rug on a patterned floor.

Modern office with glass-walled meeting room, long table, ergonomic chairs, wooden floor, and large windows allowing natural light; a single chair sits in the hallway.

Azulay brought in an easy balance by pairing expected and unexpected facets. “The wood has a strong masculine presence, but it can be too heavy,” he notes. “We softened everything with organic curves, and it became so dynamic and light.”

Modern office with a wooden desk, two chairs, a lounge chair, built-in shelves, wood herringbone floor, large window, and neutral-toned decor.

Modern living room with beige furniture, round chairs, a large TV, and floor-to-ceiling windows showing a cityscape with apartment buildings.

Modern living room with wood-paneled walls, a mounted TV, beige leather seating, round coffee table, patterned rug, large column, and floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains.

A wooden doorway leads to a modern bathroom with a wall-mounted sink, large mirror, and vertical light fixture; shelves and wood paneling are visible in the foreground.

For more information, visit kotproject.com.

Photography by Amit Geron.