Ismini Karali-designed Cretan restaurant opens in Athens
Greek conceptual designer and architect Ismini Karali has designed Cretan Modern Restaurant ‘Kateharis’ in Athens, Greece.
The stakeholders of the project were Maria and Vicky Pantazis, two young sisters from the island of Crete, with a common dream: to open a modern restaurant with Cretan cuisine in Athens, Capital of Greece. The idea was conceived in December 2010 and the official opening took place on 14 January 2011.
In this project, conceptual interior architect Ismini Karali was looking to use a wide variety of cheap materials, and through them to transfer Cretan tradition with a fresh look. Each choice, each detail is the result of a deep functional and stylistic analysis. Design elements integrated are designed to represent the way of Cretan living.
The separate wooden wall with small boats describe the way Cretan people still make a living through shipping and the great history and connection Crete has with sea, from the ancient times. The wooden boards with the knockers symbolize the Greek hospitality.
The carved text on the clear mirror comes is an extract from a book ‘Kapetan Mixalis’ written by Nikos Kazantzakis, the most important and most translated Greek writer and philosopher of the 20th century with a Cretan origin.
Two displays on the wall contain pieces of traditional Cretan costumes on a digital print. The ceiling lightings have lyrics and quotes as well as sketches, representative of the island’s culture, printed on them. Industrial designer Ilektra Pouraki and renovation designer Marina Sifnaiou has specially created graphic art installations with witty references in the Cretan tradition.
A wall covered with a photo collage mostly from Ismini Karali’s personal archive, shows characteristics moments and shots of Cretan life and other Greek islands.
