{"id":322730,"date":"2025-12-02T12:30:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T12:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/322730\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T12:30:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T12:30:11","slug":"athens-industrial-voulkanizater-restaurant-features-wheel-rims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/322730\/","title":{"rendered":"Athens’ industrial Voulkanizater restaurant features wheel rims"},"content":{"rendered":"

Designers George Vlasis Pakalidis and Artemis Valyraki drew on the industrial origins of a tyre workshop when designing the Voulkanizater\u00a0listening bar<\/a> and restaurant in Athens<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Located in Athens’ inner-city Koukaki neighbourhood, the bar and restaurant took its name from the building’s former use.<\/p>\n

\"MetalWood was used to contrast the building’s industrial interior<\/p>\n

“The space and location of the current bar was previously a tyre-fixing, or vulcanisation, place \u2013 in Greek voulkanizater, \u03b2\u03bf\u03c5\u03bb\u03ba\u03b1\u03bd\u03b9\u03b6\u03b1\u03c4\u03ad\u03c1, from the French word vulcanisateur, which is the name of the restaurant too,” Pakalidis<\/a> told Dezeen.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

\"ViewThe Voulkanizater interior features original concrete walls<\/p>\n

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

“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.<\/p>\n

“In addition to that, we have added an extensive curtain covering the facade, to give flexibility for privacy and create better acoustics.”<\/p>\n

\"MetalThe bar takes centre stage at the restaurant<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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

\"WheelOld wheel rims were used for decoration<\/p>\n

The wheel rims rest on metal beams inside the bar’s metal lightbox, where they are illuminated by LED lights.<\/p>\n

A metal car part was also used for decoration in the bathroom.<\/p>\n

“We tried to approach the space as an art piece rather than just a restaurant hall,” Pakalidis said.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Facade<\/p>\n

Jewellery informs Bureau de Change’s facade for Nikos Koulis store in Athens\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“That extends to the tyres over the bar or the car part over the toilet sink.”<\/p>\n

\"MetalIn the toilet, a car part was used to create a decoration above the sink<\/p>\n

The vintage logos and signatures of classic tyre companies, such as Michelin, also inspired Voulkanizater’s interior design.<\/p>\n

In addition, the designers covered its ceiling in acoustic panels to create the best conditions for listening to music.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

\"Metal-rodThe listening bar and restaurant has strategically placed speakers<\/p>\n

Pakalidis and Valyraki kept the colour palette of the restaurant dark, with grey concrete and brown wood walls, complemented by the contrasting metal furniture.<\/p>\n

Voulkanizater also features light projectors and a sophisticated lighting control system, allowing the designers to change the mood of the space as needed.<\/p>\n

\"AthensIt is located in Athens’ central Koukaki neighbourhood<\/p>\n

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

The photography is by Giorgos Sfakianakis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Project credits:<\/p>\n

Architecture and branding: George Vlasis Pakalidis, Artemis Valyraki
Light designer: Afrodite Neri
Creative direction: Nepheli-Ophelia Sachverdyan<\/p>\n