1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos

the design featuring custom inox and oak furniture turns coffee-making into performance.

GA Architects edited by christina vergopoulou April 10, 2025 4 min

Georgios Apostolopoulos designs café in 1970s Athens building

Located in the neighbourhood of Pagrati in central Athens, Moden Café by Georgios Apostolopoulos Architects occupies a ground-floor space within a 1970s building. Named after the original pastry workshop just a few doors down, the café pays homage to its roots while embracing a contemporary design ethos. The space has been created to celebrate the artistry of pastries and the ritual of coffee making. The design fosters warmth and calmness, focusing on integrating the café with the neighbourhood. Bespoke elements, crafted from scratch, contribute to creating an inviting environment for the visitors. The aesthetic is defined by clean lines and neutral tones, a monochromatic overall atmosphere.

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 1 — all images by Lorenzo Zandri

Custom Interior and Open Facade Define Moden Café’s Space

Textured floors and walls aim to recall the sense of dough and flour, bringing warmth and a sense of familiarity to the interior. The design team at Georgios Apostolopoulos Architects crafts bespoke inox and oak benches and seating to showcase the products. At the center of the space, the kitchen and bar form a central focal point of Moden Café, designed as an open stage where pastry serving and coffee making become a performance, celebrating craftmanship through transparency. Seating is arranged around the perimeter, with benches lining three sides of the rectangular layout, drawing attention inward and encouraging interaction. A fully open, custom-made facade blurs the line between the interior and exterior, filling the space with natural light and connecting it to the cityscape. The design, natural light, and materials come together to create a peaceful atmosphere. Every detail is crafted to foster simplicity, offering a serene setting.

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 2 — ground-floor café nestled in a 1970s Athenian building

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 3 — a contemporary space rooted in local pastry heritage

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 4 — designed to honor the rituals of coffee and pastry

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 5 — clean lines and neutral tones define the interior

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 6 — open-plan design turns coffee-making into performance

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 7 — transparency highlights craft and process

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 8 — a fully open facade merges street and interior

monochromatic-moden-cafe-athens-georgios-apostolopoulos-architects-designboom-1800-2 — a monochromatic palette brings visual calm

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 9 — natural light floods the space through the glass frontage

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 10 — architecture integrates the café with the neighborhood

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 11 — oak textures soften the stainless steel elements

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 12 — every bespoke element is crafted from scratch

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 13 — textured walls evoke flour and dough

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 14 — custom inox and oak furniture showcase the café’s offerings

1970s building in athens turns into monochromatic moden café by georgios apostolopoulos - 15 — kitchen and bar form the heart of the space

monochromatic-moden-cafe-athens-georgios-apostolopoulos-architects-designboom-1800-3 — a peaceful setting where design meets daily ritual

elevation axonometric axonometric detail orthographic view plan model

project info:

name: Moden Athens | @moden.ath
architect: Georgios Apostolopoulos Architects | @georgios__apostolopoulos

location: Athens, Greece

photographer: Lorenzo Zandri | @lorenzozandri

artwork: Alexia Psaradeli | @psaradelialexia

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.