Tel Aviv night-life
The Vox Nightclub
A glimpse at Tel Aviv's night-life
TEL AVIV - Architect Ilan Pivko, who enjoys the nightlife himself, designed the interiors of the popular Vox nightclub that opened this year in Tel Aviv.
He managed to conjure up a design that caters to Tel Aviv's clubbers, including the active gay scene. He designed a theatrical setting encouraging provocative and sexual interaction, which perhaps couldn't exist in a completely straight environment.
One of the club's gimmicks is the restroom area, which is built as a long corridor. The dividing walls between the cubicles are made of double glazing that functions as a one-way mirror. A person inside a cubicle can see outwards and watch those in line without being seen himself.
This gimmick, which was introduced in New York long before Pivko brought it to Israel, depends on the lighting. The light in the cubicles must be dimmed in comparison to the light in the corridor, which in turn creates the desired effect.
A technical fault occurred on the club's opening night. Or perhaps it was a public relations gimmick. Spotlights lit up the cubicles and illuminated the goings on inside. While the main party was on the dance floor, a more intimate party was taking place in the line to the restrooms.
Dozens of clubbers filled the dark side of the corridor to get a glimpse of the free peep show inside, whose stars were completely unaware of the commotion they had created. The management apologized and said it was part of the breaking-in phase.
Pivko said he used his nightlife experiences to create the club’s setting.
When asked whether he takes pleasure in being defiant Pivko said he does take pleasure in defiance, but he doesn’t do it to stir anger.
"I built the phallic building on the Ayalon freeway because I liked it. Even my blond hair and lifestyle aren't defiant statements,” he said. “If people interpret my pleasure as defiant it's their problem not mine."
He said he lives his life to the fullest extent, and enjoys changing and taking an interest in new things.
“I am not harming anyone, so what's wrong with it?" Pivko said. "I am used to being an extrovert and attracting attention. But when you do things you believe in it doesn't really create antagonism. I live my life happily and nothing really fazes me."
