Safka

Safka was the first Scandinavian restaurant to open in the center of Athens.

The central design concept was based on the idea of the Scandinavian forest, a defining element of Scandinavian culture and design.

To define and organize the kitchen area, an elongated volume was created that runs through the entire restaurant and extends beneath the mezzanine. It is clad with vertical strips of OSB wood panels in varying thicknesses, forming a rhythm reminiscent of a cluster of trees, an effect further enhanced by the lighting design.

The restaurant unfolds across two levels—the ground floor and the mezzanine—resulting in variations in ceiling height within the main space. The internal metal pergola that defines the bar further reinforces the sensation of density and openness found in a forest, experienced through the different heights, creating spatial tension and varied spatial experiences.

Chairs by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto are combined with custom-designed metal and wood tables. The deep green color palette highlights photographs printed on metal surfaces that are placed along the tables. The depiction of the Tree of Life, a prominent symbol in Scandinavian mythology, completes the overall composition.

The use of metal in the design establishes a connection with the industrial identity of the neighborhood, while the urban garden at the back of the restaurant—retaining its raw and unrefined character—serves as a reminder that we are in Metaxourgeio, one of the historic neighborhoods of Athens.

PROJECT INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION
Architectural design of a Scandinavian restaurant.

CATEGORY
Retail Stores – Restaurants

COMMISSION
Architectural Design, Interior Design, Construction

LOCATION
Metaxourgeio, Attica, Greece

PROJECT AREA
220 sq.m.

DESIGN TEAM
Panagiota Kamperou

COLLABORATING CONSULTANTS
Dimitris Tsigkounis / Graphic Design
Melina Mascha / Lighting Design
Giorgos Vogiatzakis / MEP Studies

STATUS
Completed

DESIGN / CONSTRUCTION PERIOD
2011 / 2012

PHOTOGRAPHY
Marika Koskinen

CONSTRUCTION / SITE SUPERVISION
Your Space Experience