Athens' industrial Voulkanizater restaurant features wheel rims and car parts

Designers George Vlasis Pakalidis and Artemis Valyraki drew on the industrial origins of a tyre workshop when designing the Voulkanizater listening bar and restaurant in Athens.

Located in Athens' inner-city Koukaki neighbourhood, the bar and restaurant took its name from the building's former use.

Metal bar with bar stools — Wood was used to contrast the building's industrial interior

"The space and location of the current bar was previously a tyre-fixing, or vulcanisation, place – in Greek voulkanizater, βουλκανιζατέρ, from the French word vulcanisateur, which is the name of the restaurant too," Pakalidis told Dezeen.

"The area in general has a long history of tyre shops, so we wanted to keep the memory in a fast-developing and highly gentrified neighbourhood."

View of tables and metal bar — The Voulkanizater interior features original concrete walls

Pakalidis and Valyraki kept the concrete walls of the tyre workshop while adding new, warmer materials to create a welcoming feel at Voulkanizater.

"The materials we used were wood, for sustainability purposes and to warm up the space, in contrast to the rough pre-existing concrete walls that we kept and metal to add an industrial feel in textures that you can find in these tyre shops," Pakalidis said.

"In addition to that, we have added an extensive curtain covering the facade, to give flexibility for privacy and create better acoustics."

Metal bar with high bar stools — The bar takes centre stage at the restaurant

The designers created a "box-in-a-box" concept for the space, with an inner volume containing the kitchen, storage and restrooms, while the bar and restaurant form an outer ring around it.

Metal was used for the furniture as well as for the bar, which forms the focal point of the space. Here, Pakalidis and Valyraki added tyre rims as a ceiling decoration.

Wheel rim-decoration in Greek bar — Old wheel rims were used for decoration

The wheel rims rest on metal beams inside the bar's metal lightbox, where they are illuminated by LED lights.

A metal car part was also used for decoration in the bathroom.

"We tried to approach the space as an art piece rather than just a restaurant hall," Pakalidis said.

"The tyre marks are an extension of this story, trying to reference the old use of the space in an unexpected way, adding a little detail to the whole experience," he continued.

"That extends to the tyres over the bar or the car part over the toilet sink."

Metal car part over mirror — In the toilet, a car part was used to create a decoration above the sink

The vintage logos and signatures of classic tyre companies, such as Michelin, also inspired Voulkanizater's interior design.

In addition, the designers covered its ceiling in acoustic panels to create the best conditions for listening to music.

"We tried to give a new perspective and use in these materials while we are referencing the [tyre] shops in a very abstract and contemporary way," Pakalidis said.

Metal-rod lights in Athens bar — The listening bar and restaurant has strategically placed speakers

Pakalidis and Valyraki kept the colour palette of the restaurant dark, with grey concrete and brown wood walls, complemented by the contrasting metal furniture.

Voulkanizater also features light projectors and a sophisticated lighting control system, allowing the designers to change the mood of the space as needed.

Athens bar seen from outside — It is located in Athens' central Koukaki neighbourhood

Other recent Athens projects featured on Dezeen include a jewellery store with an intricate metalwork facade and the art-filled Ace Hotel in a brutalist building.

The photography is by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

Project credits:

Architecture and branding: George Vlasis Pakalidis, Artemis Valyraki
Light designer: Afrodite Neri
Creative direction: Nepheli-Ophelia Sachverdyan

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