Gallina Athens

Handcrafted aesthetic

In designing the restaurant, the aim was to create a non-conventional space that would actively engage visitors in an experience highlighting the values of art, design, and gastronomy, translating them into tangible forms, materials, and textures.

 

Spatial Organization

The existing restaurant features a distinctive double-height space with a mezzanine and a spiral staircase, while its façades are clad with large metal openings that provide full visual permeability throughout the interior. Upon entering, visitors encounter the central dining zone, arranged in an open-plan layout with seating, the bar and its counter, and an open kitchen at the rear, allowing guests to observe the food preparation process.

With a strong emphasis on detail, custom-made marble tables were designed, along with stainless-steel chairs featuring cushions made of flexible gel, introducing an unusual, soft tactile quality. The floor is finished with a mosaic composed of various Greek marble fragments, combined with bespoke ceramic tiles by artist Vasilis Papageorgiou.

 

 

Materials & Furnishings

Although wood in its natural tone appears to dominate at first glance, the design also incorporates materials with a more robust character, such as stainless steel and marble, which are seamlessly absorbed by the warmth and softness of the wood.

A central feature of the space is a sculptural light tube that rises to the ceiling and draws the eye from every direction, even from outside the restaurant. A handcrafted wool-and-silk rug by artist Yannis Varelas adorns the wall in front of the luminous column, becoming a focal point through its rich chromatic variety. The interplay of these two key elements creates an atmosphere of warmth and comfort, further enhanced by ambient lighting from smaller pendant fixtures and wall sconces.

 

 

Staircase Design

The stainless-steel staircase at the rear introduces a distinctive geometry to the space and leads visitors to the mezzanine, which is lined with wooden, wall-mounted wine libraries. This function extends to the basement as well, where the entrance resembles a wooden tunnel illuminated by a 90-degree light tube that continues the vertical column from the ground floor.