The post LOULOU Optical Store | Lyon, France was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The post Myran Apenanti was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The project involves the design of a contemporary patisserie in the heart of the old town of Rethymno. With a special variety of desserts, and a “sweet sandwich” as the signature product, Sable embodies the version of an elegant quality pastry workshop.

In a long and narrow space of 49m², including sub-units such as workshop, bar, clients corridor, and auxiliary spaces (WC and storage room), great care was given to a functional layout implementation, giving emphasis to comfortable access and ergonomic standards.

The architects draw inspiration from the layers that compose the “sweet sandwiches”. Installations with a form of layers, such as the metal shelves as well as the pendant lights over the bar, reflect the desserts production process.

Lacquered constructions in the form of brackets, embrace branding identity elements and decorative details. Plaster constructions on the ceiling and the walls are harmoniously combined with the 3d wallpaper patterns giving a sense of luxury. 

Terrazzo tiles in combination with oak wood shades compose a background that showcases the minimal lines of the petrol metal installations, creating a space of smooth contrasts between modern and classic.

The post Sable Pastry Workshop was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

Eleftherias Street is one of the oldest thoroughfares in the historic center of Limassol, with a past of great commercial activity, combining residential and commercial buildings from the mid-19th century, with influences from British colonialism up until the mid-20th century, when modernism had already exerted its influence on local architecture.

In the late 80’s, with the city developing towards the east, the area declined, several of the buildings were abandoned, and their use was limited almost entirely to craft. Following the recent completion of the marina, the area is regaining attention, and many buildings of architectural and historical interest have been restored.

One of the buildings, that is clearly influenced by the modernism of the 40’s, is the two-storey building with a triangular plan, which is located at the intersection of Eleftherias and Aphrodites streets. Aphrodites street, on the south side of the building, had served as the thoroughfare of the Turkish Cypriot quarter, a borderline between Christian and Muslim elements. The restoration of this building, and the conversion of its ground floor into a concept store, has been undertaken by the architectural office Arcube Studio by Panayiotis Stelikos.

In terms of morphology, the visible linear structural elements, made of reinforced concrete with large windows and skylights, clearly indicate the influences of modernism on the ground floor. On the other hand, the limited openings on the first floor, the wooden windows with shutters, but mainly the wooden roof, refer to 19th-century architecture. The perimetrical balcony, which is an extension of the ground floor slab, not only functions as a planar structural element that separates the two floors, but also as a boundary between the two architectural periods.

The Melting Pot is an exhibition space where design appreciators may also enjoy selected music, specialty coffee, quality cocktails and hand picked dishes. This idea emerged from the necessity of an empirical presentation of RIZA, the new furniture brand launched by Panayiotis Stelikos.

The main referential point for the configuration of the fixed elements and the spatial assignment of the functions of the interior area is the perimeter of the building, which consists of two linear sections that converge in a circular arc. The design of the bar relies on this form, a floating concrete volume with references to futurism, in light terracotta color from a combination of pigments that has been created especially for the venue. At points it resembles a rock in the desert and at other points an aircraft from the future. It has been placed centrally, around the central column, as an offset of the perimeter inwards. This central placement brings the beverage production process to the forefront, while allowing a circular movement between the production area and the seats.

The scale has also been utilized in the case of the bar, with its net height kept as low as possible, so that its relationship with the distance to the ceiling, makes the space more impressive. Smaller volumes of the same material, the Kaivu, are found in the perimeter of the space, serving as stands for exhibits, as seats and as tables.

Light terracotta color, in a different shade, is found on the fabrics used as upholstery, on the Porana sofa, and on the cushions of chairs and of armchairs.

The brown and gray shades, applied to the structural elements, the window facades and the flowerbeds, connect the building externally with the Cypriot urban landscape, while the gray of the external steps, that extends to the inner floor, acts as a material connecting the exterior with the interior. The integration of the interior with the exterior and with the immediate urban environment, is achieved organically through a total of five doors, two on each side and one in the circular arch of the space. In such an asymmetrical floor plan, each of these five doors makes a distinctive impression.

For instance, entering through the main door creates a sense of a space that is firm and impressive, dominated by white and with considerable height, whereas anyone entering from either of the north entrances, will face the light terracotta of the bar and the climbing plants further inside, which create a sense of familiarity of an urban courtyard.

The white of the interior walls and of the high ceiling is also found in a glossy texture in many of the furniture, and more prominently in the perforated stands with the steel frames, formed by polygonal chains of straight sections and circular arches, that start from the floor and end at the ceiling.

The tall, frameless doorway leading to the auxiliary spaces is integrated with the wall with its handle following the logic of the linear metal frames. The space’s open plan, combined with the large windows, allows for the light to diffuse abundantly, while the existing steel meshes on the south side, utilized for the climbing plants, create unique shadows during the morning hours.

The logic of alternating between the transparency of the white exhibition stands, that opposes the monolithicity of the Kaivu, is also applied to the movable furniture, such as the steel chairs Anjo and Velma, combined with the Tukai seats. The white Uyuni dining set is an ideal combination of the monolithic nature of the concrete and the transparency achieved by the detachment of the table top and the stool seat from the steel base respectively. The Miyoshi armchair, embracing all the properties of the design principle, is bulky and elegant, thin as a sheet of folded paper, heavy and suspended.

The design principle of the movable furniture matches with that of the entire space, that is, the alternation between textures, colors and volumes, with minimal lines and the earthy color palette being a common attribute.

The color palette is comprised by colors of the Cypriot urban and natural landscape, in tones and textures that oftentimes refer to Scandinavia or to Korean minimalism. The green element, which also renders the space more earthy, encloses the building on the outside, while on the inside, succulents are suspended from the ceiling. The artificial lighting is mainly hidden, and is used more as a background element of the night scene, emphasizing the space’s basic structural elements.

The post The Melting Pot was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

3QUARTERS is one of the first innovative sustainable fashion accessories brands in Greece upcycling awning off-cuts. Within five years, the brand has reached an international audience and the need for a greater production necessitated not only a bigger production space but also a concept store that would highlight its outstanding local brand.

The architects worked on a limited budget, trying to fully endorse the principles of the brand on sustainability, locality, and the art of crafting. 3QUARTERS source all their raw materials locally and adhere to a policy of zero waste, making unique products in-house. Building on the idea of sustainability translating to a color, a 60’s green mosaic floor that is typical of that architectural era, was the trigger for this interior project. The 3QUARTERS workshop is a green box in downtown Athens resembling a green oasis in an urban environment. In other words, it is a sophisticated illusion of slow living and sustainable lifestyle.

Situated in one of the oldest neighborhoods of central Athens, keeping a simple design was critical for 3QUARTERS not only as a color statement but also as a shelter from the crowded and noisy flux. The showroom on the ground floor occupies two formerly separate retail units in a small alley of a mazelike urban artisanship environment.

The choice of the mint green aesthetics is what defined the interior renovation and the rebranding. The green color is linked to nature and vegetation and mint to tranquility, freshness, and well-being. The perception is, therefore, fresh, and relaxing, in contrast to the overwhelming graffiti-sprayed urban setting. This allows customers to feel like members of a mutually ethical community. The choice of a clean design works in two ways: it is a comprehensive canvas for an ever-changing colorful products collection, and at the same time it offers reassurance and motivation to people that ‘they are on the right path’. The tree-like Schefera Araliaceae plant concludes the notion of well-being, stimulation, creativity, inspiration and emotional comfort.

Maintaining the character of an industrial building, the green shelter box hides behind a dark grey steel glazing facade. The mint canvas is planted with steel hangers and infrastructure elements, all in black color. All furniture and storage spaces are custom made, built of lacquered mdf and natural oak top, forming a balanced earth – forest ambience.

Respecting the principles of the brand and being conscious of the environmental impact of any of our interior projects, we worked with efficiency by minimizing our waste and optimizing our resources.

indoor climate quality is achieved through natural ventilation. In addition, materials’ life expectancy and end-of-lifecycle as well as their maintenance were put into high-level design priority.

Asquiat Design

The post 3Quarters workshop and retail was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The jewelry is in a central location in Nicosia, at Strovolos. The objective of the redesign was to merge three little shops into an integrated space, catering to the needs of the store.

The design creates a modern, timeless, functional exhibition space for jewels, informed by museum exhibition design in their placement and lighting; it also confronts the need of highlighting the company legacy, where architecture remains consistent with high-end jewelry design.

The guiding design idea elaborates on the reflections in the faceted surfaces of a diamond, materialized as recesses or protractions in space -horizontal and vertical on the facades and surfaces; those fundamental lines succeed in integrating volumes, facades, interiors, and materials. The material palette alludes to the first jewelry established by Mr. Michalis Evdokimou in 1968, in the narrow lanes of Strovolos.

The color palette relies on dark shades combined with the hues of gold, the latter being used in linear, floating elements that create balanced contrasts with their glow, as highlights in the intentionally dark space.

The lighting design creates a dramatic atmosphere, with exhibition lights on the display stands and low ambient lighting.

Upon entry, the central display stand immediately becomes the spine of the store, accommodating diamond creations, leading to the customer service and jewelry display section that leads to an area for having coffee with the jewelry staff.

A minimal dimension space, alluding to a museum shop, is used for private viewings of selected pieces, maintaining visibility with the rest of the store through a specially designed golden perforated screen.

AcA Architects – Renos Constantinou

The post Evdokimou Jewellery was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The post KORA Bakery was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

Situated on Via del Corso, one of the most vibrant streets in Italy’s capital, Apple Via Del Corso brings the historic Palazzo Marignoli back to life. Inspired by its colorful past, the design reveals the building’s fascinating and multi-layered history by unveiling painted ceilings and frescoes from the 1890s juxtaposed with modern graffiti artworks from the 1950s. Celebrating the murals, hidden from view for decades, the new design creates a space where the city and history truly meet.

The design is the result of a close collaboration between Apple’s design teams and the integrated engineering and design team at Foster + Partners.

Stefan Behling, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, said: “The joy of the project was to peel back and rediscover the layers of history throughout the building and revealing its eclectic past, which ranges from the historic painted ceilings and the frescoes by Fabio Cipolla, both from the 1890s, to the more recent graffiti artworks by Afro Basaldella. Palazzo Marignoli has seen so much throughout its history, and we feel truly privileged to be able to be part of its newest phase of life. Especially, as Rome is one of my favorite cities in the world.”

Located on the site of a 16th century convent ‘delle Convertite,’ Palazzo Marignoli was designed by renowned architect Salvatore Bianchi in 1870 for Filippo Marignoli. A second addition by the architect Giulio Podesti in the 19th century added the main façade we see today. From 1890 to 1955, it housed the famous Caffè Aragno, a fashionable meeting place for writers, journalists and political figures visiting from the neighboring parliament. On the ground floor two large ceiling paintings called “Dawn” and “Dusk” by Fabio Cipolla and Ettore Ballerini respectively, have been carefully restored and integrated within the new store. One of the most exciting finds were the multiple graffiti panels created by the artist, Afro Basaldella – a contemporary of Picasso and one of Italy’s most important artists – depicting urban scenes from Italian cities.

The façade towards Via del Corso has also been carefully restored, its large windows allowing views into the store and towards a beautiful internal courtyard. Entry to the store is through a historic passage that leads to the courtyard flanked by two generous and striking spaces that celebrate the grandeur of the historic palazzo. The arches and vaults of the central passage are lined with Carrara stone, carefully selected to match the existing marble, and create dramatic vistas that lead you to the grand staircase. These spaces are an ideal setting for all customers to engage, explore and be inspired by Apple’s latest products and the artwork that surrounds them.

The courtyard is a remnant of the 16th century monastery and its garden, forming a peaceful green heart offering respite from the busy shopping street. It creates a calm focus for the entire building, visible from almost every corner of the store. The Camphora trees with their soft canopies offer dappled shade, creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors, and leafy vistas up to the lush courtyard terrace on the piano nobile. The historic lanterns that were found on the site have been carefully restored by local specialists using high-efficiency LEDs that mimic traditional candlelight.

The monumental staircase built originally by Marignoli to access his residence on the first floor leads you to the piano nobile, meticulously restored with its original Carrara marble detailing. The original skylight which was built over during a previous refurbishment has been restored to flood the space with artificial light that matches the tone of natural daylight. The first floor houses the Apple Forum within the vaulted former ballroom. The Apple Forum is the focus for Today at Apple that features workshops and events.

The space adjacent to the grand ballroom – historically, used as a games room – features an elaborate geometrically patterned, hand-painted ceiling, which was discovered during construction. A dedicated team of conservators have worked thousands of hours to restore the ceiling to its former glory. Linking all these rooms is a gallery space that opens onto a terrace. Inspired by historic Roman roof terraces, the space is filled with fragrant jasmine vines and olive trees, looking down onto the canopy of trees in the courtyard, offering another delightful place for visitors to unwind and relax.

Apple Via del Corso is a celebration of the past and future and delicately articulates the different eras of history, creating a harmonious juxtaposition of old and new, and takes this building with so much history into its next phase of life.

Foster + Partners

The post Apple Store Via Del Corso was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The project involves a building that houses two major retail chains in the town of Livadia. The main retail and storage are located on the ground floor, covering 2500m², and the first floor accommodates further storage and mechanicals in 135m².

The design objective is to highlight the contemporary character of the stores. Transparency is preferred for both main facades, to allow visual communication between inside and out and to bring abundant natural light to the interior. The curbed edge of the building marks the entrance and facilitates the flow of visitors. The loadbearing structure is mixed, combining reinforced concrete and metal components.

The design relied on BIM methodology, which is a source of information regarding the building that generates a reliable database for optimized decision-making from the first design stages to completion; BIM supports cost management, bill of quantities, feasibility assessment and functional management. Information is harmoniously reflected in the virtual and physical result.

NFC Nikos Fourlemadis Construction

The post Twin retail spaces was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.