Mythical Italus, king of the Oenotrians of Greek origin, is said to be the first inhabitant of the Apennine peninsula and the eponym of Italy. Modern day Italus, an all-day cafe-bar, situated in the shopping heart of Kallithea, a vibrant neighbourhood of Athens, draws its inspiration from the products, tastes and traditions of the two countries to create an interesting mix.
Our office was asked to create the architectural concept and develop the branding of this high-end venue. The architectural concept aspires to embody Italian finesse, expressed through the application of a black and white color palette and the use of delicate materials and shapes. Cement boards and fine wood are used as cladding materials, creating interesting V-shapes that define the character of the store. These shapes, printed in black and white tones, form the patterns for the print identity, used in the packaging and stationary of the Italus brand.
What makes this project one-of-a-kind?
The most challenging aspect of the design was dealing with the long and narrow layout, while creating a modern, welcoming space. As an answer to the long layout of the plan, we have assigned different roles to the consecutive spaces of the ground floor: the bar area, the private seating area, the communal space and the back yard.
About the authors
Chadios Architects is a well-established practice that offers a wide range of services from architectural and interior design to architectural branding and concept development for retail and entertainment spaces to project management and construction administration. Founded in 1978, the firm has built a strong portfolio undertaking and delivering projects of various scales and typologies in Greece and various other locations worldwide such as Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Libya and Dubai, UAE. We approach every client’s specific needs through an analytical process that encourages creative experimentation combined with sustainable thinking and implementation.
Text provided by the authors of the project.
Credits
Interior
CHADIOS Architects
Client
Andreas Vagianos
Year of completion
2017
Location
Kallithea, Athens, Greece
Area
250 m2
Photos
George Dimitrakopoulos
Author photo: Thanos Asfis
Project Partners
OK Atelier s.r.o., MALANG s.r.o.
