The project involves the redesign of the outdoor area of the “Coffee Avenue” café- restaurant, on the square of Nea Smyrni. The square has a marked commercial character, with many recreational areas, and is a meeting point for both locals and visitors. A substantial part of the square features the element of water, with a system of consecutive lakes with waterfalls and fountains, on many levels.
As the cafe extends upon the square, the intervention should not alter the identity of the area but should at the same time be separated from the adjacent cafes that are lined up next to each other. A challenging fact was that all structures had to be movable.
The design returns the private open-air space to the square. Benches either provide views of the sidewalk and the fountains or give more privacy. A central semicircular bench occupying the middle part, reminds the importance of socialization.
In addition to the reintegration of the coffee shop in the public space, extensive planting was introduced to provide the square and patrons with a small oasis, an urban graden that was missing from the square and the city at large. For this, plants were hanged from the wooden trellis but also placed on the backs of the benches.
Lighting plays an important role in the project, creating scenarios for all hours of the day, as well as for special events.