Contrasting shapes

On the main street of the Havana district -an area of particular interest for food and beverage venues- a new contemporary Italian trattoria takes shape, emphasizing a balanced dialogue between materiality and form.

 

Exterior Design & Layout

Along the sidewalk, the restaurant unfolds with its first outdoor dining area. During the summer months, the metal pergola opens, allowing the large plane trees lining the street to provide natural shade throughout the day, while leaving the sky visible at night. Perimeter planting functions as a natural filter from passersby and street traffic, complemented by marine plywood panels which, through their carefully considered design and placement, allow natural light to penetrate the space, casting dramatic shadows and creating a layered atmosphere.

The main dining hall coexists with the open kitchen, where a low counter in front of the chefs’ workspace enhances a sense of immediacy and informality -core principles of the design concept. Comfortable rosewood sofas are arranged along the perimeter, oriented toward the heart of the restaurant, the kitchen, evoking the feeling of a large communal living room. Tables for both small and larger groups are interspersed throughout the space. The existing central column, a dominant feature of the hall, is embraced by a custom-made marble table and serves as the structural base for a suspended metal planter.

Material Palette

The interior is clad with symmetrical perforated panels crafted from oak and rosewood, integrated with concealed lighting that bathes the space in warm wooden reflections. Upholstery fabrics draw inspiration from Italian elegance, both in their combinations and in the detailing of their stitching. Walls finished with hand-applied plaster gain luminosity from embedded, scattered mirrors, while material contrast is further reinforced by the use of construction planks on the floor and the brass cladding applied to all industrial stainless-steel kitchen equipment. Overall, the dialogue between raw materials -such as construction planks and plaster- and more refined ones -such as marble and brass- achieves a balance that reflects the spirit of the restaurant.

 

 

Morphology & Color Scheme

Circular elements and curves dominate the composition, both in plan and in the finer design details, from the shapes of tables and lighting fixtures to the perforations in the wooden wall panels. The circle is employed repetitively to establish a strong visual motif, while the square tile used in the preparation areas, combined with exposed green grout, was selected to introduce geometric contrast.

The color palette is led by green -featured on the entrance door, tables, selected walls, seating, and tile joints- and yellow, present in the sofas and the tones of the wood. These are complemented by brass accents, visible in elements such as the bar cladding and selected lighting fixtures.

 

Simple aesthetic

For more than 120 years, Aigli has been a focal point of Athenian social life. Since its beginnings in 1904 as a small café beside the neoclassical Zappeion building, it has evolved into a shared point of reference for the city. The new Aigli draws on this legacy, while aiming to broaden its reach and become more inclusive, open, and dynamic.

 

Existing Building

The first step in shaping the design proposal was a careful analysis of the existing building and the public space of which it forms an integral part. This process led to the development of a design language that is both classical and contemporary, acknowledging and utilizing the existing decorative elements -columns, marble patterns, and intricate woodwork- without allowing them to take on a dominant role that would compromise everyday use.

While historically the building was inward-looking, the new design highlights the natural beauty of the surrounding gardens by opening up views and access wherever possible. A primary objective was for the architecture of the new Aigli to be unique and heterogeneous, with each of its diverse spaces -the All-Day Café, the restaurant, the cinema, the event, music, and art halls, among others- possessing a distinct identity, all connected through a shared “DNA” of design elements and materials.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The All-Day Café consists of both indoor and outdoor areas with a total capacity of 320 seats, drawing inspiration from the tradition of large cafés of the 19th century in Greece and Europe. Four key gestures organize and define the character of the project.

First, the interior floors and the walls up to bar height are clad in locally quarried green Tinos marble, with the marble edges left rough, as if in an outdoor garden. Second, a 20-meter-long marble bar dominates the historic space, incorporating stations for coffee, juices, cocktails, food, and a DJ booth. Third, a large interior window opens onto the central kitchen, creating a lively, theatrical backdrop within the dining area. Similar openings at the rear of the kitchen connect both the café and the kitchen to the garden. Finally, to further strengthen this connection, two large planters with ficus trees are positioned at the center of the hall.

In contrast to the vibrant atmosphere of the All-Day Café, the restaurant is conceived as a sequence of smaller spaces that foster intimacy and understated luxury. Nestled among the foliage of the garden trees, its interior and exterior areas are designed to fully embrace views of the surrounding landscape and the Acropolis. A key intention of the design was to ensure that visitors can fully experience and enjoy the natural beauty around them.

 

 

Materials & Furnishings

The existing red-and-white triangular marble floor pattern was revealed and restored, a geometry that is echoed in the contemporary wooden pattern of the ceiling. Along the perimeter, generous booth-style seating was designed, while a sculptural bar establishes a central axis around which the restaurant’s activity revolves. Layers of color and texture, expressed through custom-designed furniture and fabrics, contribute to a rich and welcoming dining atmosphere.

 

 

A shell inside a shell

Located in Pagrati, the project was originally a 28m² hair salon before being transformed into an architectural office.

 

Design Philosophy

The selection of this particular space was influenced by its standout features, which however, also posed challenges during the design process. These include the impressive 4.5m double-height ceiling, the open floor plan, expansive corner glass windows, as well as its ground-floor location, connecting the office directly to the city. To address these elements, a cube-like structure was built within the space, discreetly housing auxiliary functions such as a wc, a kitchenette, and storage. Clad in marble, this cube serves as the only fixed and solid component of the interior, with a hidden entrance offering access to these facilities.

In parallel, a custom “desk-parasite” with slender metal legs is designed to sit alongside the cube, forming a cohesive composition. Overhead led tube lighting enhances the work and meeting area, which can accommodate up to eight people. This layout reflects the office’s philosophy that every team member is equally essential to the success of each project.

 

Material Palette & Acoustic Design

The dark yellow, velvety curtains serve as sound-absorbing elements and allow the space to be fully darkened during presentations, while also highlighting its impressive height of nearly five meters. Their vibrant color and soft texture introduce a bold contrast to the otherwise minimalist interior, dynamically altering the atmosphere both inside and out, depending on whether they are closed, half-open, or fully open.

 

Lighting Design

Careful attention was given to the artificial lighting, which varies in color, intensity, and type, sparking curiosity and surprising both visitors and pedestrians. At night, the concealed lighting from the ceiling of the marble box gently illuminates the space, turning the studio into a vibrant, glowing object that seamlessly blends with the local neighborhood.

Fluid routes

The studio is founded by a professional ballet dancer, Mariia Dreihaupt, who became a prominent inspirational figure during the project’s conceptual stage.

 

Design Philosophy

The interior layout was reconfigured to create a fluid, elegant space, by rounding up the sharp corners and using curtains as dividers. A central corridor leads to the changing rooms and showers, which are cladded with small mosaic tiles, drawing inspiration form public bathrooms with modernist aesthetics. At the heart of the studio, an open room is used to hosts yoga classes, accommodating up to 15 people. A flexible and discrete lighting system as well as large mirrors along the walls, create an “aethereal” and harmonious atmosphere.

 

Construction Initiatives

During construction, the primary aim was to source local materials as well as reuse existing ones found throughout the city, placing emphasis on the project’s environmental impact and sustainability. A series of custom furniture were carefully crafted, based on meticulously drawn blueprints and diagrams, such as a bespoke, curved sofa at the center of the reception as well as minimal wooden lockers, complimented by elaborate graphic key tags and numbers.

 

Materials & Textures

A 1970s Gobelin fabric, sourced second-hand from an old fabric manufacturer, became the material protagonist of the design. In parallel, heavyweight materials such as stone, sourced from a local warehouse, and concrete were used to construct a series of small tables as well as the reception furniture piece. Finally, the walls are painted in off-white tones and the floor is cladded with gray microcement, thus creating a minimal and soft aesthetic.