Location: Athens
Surface: 120m2
Status: Concept
Year: 2016
Team: Louis Barault, Clelia Ntassi, Elisania Michalopoulou
This
new asian tapas bar is situated on the ground floor of a typical 90’s mixed-use
building in downtown Athens. The design aims to reflect and interpret into
space, diverse elements and components of three important South – East Asian
cultures. Namely, Thai , Chinese and Japanese. However, the cornerstone of the
design process was the latter. Privacy, Introversion, Mystery and Secrecy are
keywords for the desired ambience of the project consolidating the true essence
of the name of the restaurant. “Naka” means “inside” in Japanese.
The
experience of visting this restaurant draws on a scenario consisting of three
key scenes .The first focuses on the exterior. Six folding steel panels filter both the natural light as well as the
views from the outside, thus protecting the interior space and rendering it
more private.
The
second scene takes place in the entrance hallway leading to the depths of the precious
interior, a delibarately designed route towards the heart of the restaurant. A
dramatic and at the same time, serene spatial prelude. In this obscure space
the only light comes from the hidden reflective brass elements in the ceiling. The
golden reflection triggers connections to Thai traditional costumes. As one
walks to enter the tables area, he merely gets glimpses through the CNC
cuttings on the steel plate wall. Their shape draws on a deconstructed Japanese
pattern. These apertures cast an interesting set of shadows to the facing
basalt wall. This rough material is constant reminder of the volcanic nature of
Japan.
Entering
the dining area, one gets overwhelmed by looking up. The curved burnt wood
element becomes the protagonist of the third scene, unifying the vertical wall
with the horizontal ceiling and capturing the eye. It consists
of 1.537 boards of various lengths between 40 to 70 centimeters. The dramatic
and intense effect pays tribute to the traditional Japanese method of
processing wood. The majority of vertical and horizontal surfaces are
microcement coated. Centrally placed, a
seven meter long, concrete, communal table separates the two seating rows of
more “private” dining, highlighting the collective nature of South East Asia.
The only visible lighting fixtures hang above the tables.
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