This project consisted in renovating an existing café-bar located on the ground level of the ’Chara’ apartment complex. The building, an example of Athenian modernism, dates from 1958 and was designed by architects Ach. Spanos and Ηip. Papaeliopoulos, in a historic residential area of Athens.

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The aim was to remodel the inner space so that all areas (apart from the bar service area) and flows to be redefined. Along with that, it was asked to design a well-defined exterior space. 

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The solution adopted for the interior was to elevate part of the floor plan so as to create two separate areas for the customers (lounge area - standing area) and a plain movement zone. 

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The lounge area is perceived as a distinctive ’box’ in the space (well-defined by timber flooring, different coloured non-plaster wall-surfaces and highlighted by the neon sign). Along with that, emphasis was given on highlighting the axis of entrance and flow (using large pendant lights) as well as on refurbishing the bar service area.

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The materials (timber flooring and furniture, off-white marble, fabric or transparent lights) were chosen to complement existing elements (mosaic flooring, wooden bar). 

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It is the quality of the facades themselves (although altered from the original design), which implements a careful intervention on the exterior wall-surfaces (elegant coloured in mint-blue or raf-blue). While appropriate planting is used to define the exterior, making a clear distinction between public and private space but also providing visual continuity.

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The concept behind this project was to create a warm and elegant space in this historic residential area of Athens adopting a simple and plain identity.