2018 IDEA Awards
Shortlist

Hellenic Republic Brighton is a contemporary narration of the traditional Greek Taverna. Featuring a fusion in traditional Hellenic vernacular that reinterprets the culture and spectacle of the culinary experience, the Taverna is a dramatic synergy of natural and industrialised materials recreating the coastal dining atmosphere.

The existing property was a failing restaurant from a bygone era that required new life.  The site has a north south orientation with a lane way that wraps around the east and north frontages. Our primary focus was to penetrate the exiting masonry walls to bring in some much needed light and street engagement/activation.  The building was stripped and all the existing structure, walls and floor were brought back to their raw form and incorporated as part of the architectural language.  Large arched windows were incorporated into the eastern wall along with a new glazed façade.

It was important for the client and the architecture to incorporate the colours, elements and corporate branding of the business into the architectural language with blue and white being the prevailing accented colour pallet. Rope was used as the primary material to metaphorically recreate the ocean waves in the ceiling and creating a sense of movement and drama to the space.  This architectural intervention was also incorporated to reinforce the charismatic and theatrical nature of the Greek Taverna.  In addition, the geometry of the rope compartmentalise the space and draw focal attention from the high entry arrival, to the diminishing perspective at the end of the space which framed the kitchen masquerading as a stage for all the dinners to witness the spectacle and art of culinary cooking.