On April 2021, I embarked on an exciting journey with Gil Marantz, the winner of the second season of the successful TV show Ninja Israel. Hand in hand I had the privilege of designing the new Ninja Academy in Rishon Letzion.

An old venue for events has become the Ninja Academy, a training space and recreation of 1600sqm.

Inspired by the Ninja Warrior primetime TV show, the Academy of Marantz is a combination of the different disciplines he believes in. The right balance, will make you achieve any goal you are up for.

Every space has been designed to make a comfort experience either for those who are in the field and those (the visitors) that are taking pictures behind the gate!

The Academy has 2 floors and a roof top. The entrance is located on the first floor where we allocate the reception desk (a suspended block of concrete balanced with a rough metal chain), the staff offices, a retail area and the stairs that takes the visitors to the main floor.

The stairs have been conceived as an immersive experience where the visitor will engage and get ready to feel like a Ninja Warrior. Playing with RGB lights, the tailor-made illustrated wallpaper designed with the talented Chen Ayala is covering the stairs. With combination of metal sheets and concrete blocks cladding on the elevator walls, we have created the perfect environment. An exhilarating experience that will make you feel like a real Ninja Warrior!

The second floor of 1200sqm is divided into 4 zones:

• Cafeteria – designed as if extruding out of a container with a cool suspended ceiling that delineating the activity (the entire floor ceiling is painted in black). The bar is located in a strategical position, in front of the stairs and in the public area (open to everyone).
• Showers, lockers and bathrooms – located near the lounge & bar separates the 2 main activities in the Academy. The lockers are a carpentry work consisting a shelving system with red plastic boxes.
• Main area – dedicated to the Ninja Culture. In it there you will find all kind of obstacles including “the wall” and a Parku area.
• Climbing area – variety of climbing walls with different difficulties.

According to Gil, in order to be the best athlete you need to combine all the disciplines in the compound.

The roof top with an area of 250sqm approximately, is a venue for events with restrooms, and storage.

The Academy is another great project by the Ben Haim Real Estate Group.