Sea & Park Lobby

In the residential project Sea & Park in Bat Yam, the lobby became far more than an entrance space. It is a complete architectural statement, born from a long standing collaboration with designer Guy Velikson, who has been working with us for nearly two decades. From the earliest sketches, it was clear this was an exceptional project, one that challenged Niso’s planning department at the highest level, both technically and in execution.

At the center stands a sculptural reception desk that almost looks like an AI generated image gone wrong, except it is not a mistake, and it was designed even before the AI era. Guy conceived a composition of inflated, upholstered spheres, almost like a soft sofa transformed into a reception desk. The entire piece is clad in rich grey leather, with a leather work surface, blue mirrored fronts, and a rounded, padded body that draws attention from every angle. Behind it rises a dramatic wave wall with concealed lighting. Above, a precise ceiling of brass strips and oversized light cubes. To the side, an L shaped wall with linear lighting against a gold backdrop. Near the elevators, a tall vertical wood slat wall continues the material language. Every element was custom made by Niso according to Guy’s vision, requiring solutions rarely encountered in conventional projects.

Yet perhaps the most striking creative gesture, beyond the desk itself, is the recurring eyewear motif that runs throughout Sea & Park. On the left wall of the lobby, monumental glasses measuring 4.93 by 1.91 meters are installed, with two massive mirrors embedded within the lenses. It is a dramatic, almost artistic intervention that introduces playfulness, reflection, and layered perception. The project’s name derives from its location in Bat Yam, facing the sea and adjacent to a park, and “Sea” also alludes to sight and vision. In line with this concept, Guy designed a unique pair of metal glasses for each of the building’s 40 residential floors, positioned immediately outside the elevators. Five different colors and eight distinct designs were created, ensuring that no pair is repeated more than once throughout the building. Each floor receives its own identity, a personal moment within a high rise residential tower.

The process was intense, precise, and driven by a shared passion for detail. Guy was involved down to the texture of the leather, the curvature of the desk edges, and the exact placement of every lighting strip. Every prototype was reviewed at our workshop to ensure it met the uncompromising standard we both uphold. Over nearly twenty years of collaboration, a professional language and genuine friendship have developed, built on trust, curiosity, and mutual respect. A project like Sea & Park in Bat Yam can only emerge when there is true chemistry between all partners, and when planning and execution teams are willing to push boundaries to transform a bold idea into a refined and lasting reality.