studio 2PiA transforms an old taverna into ‘neon bakery’ in argolis, greece

within the region of argolis in greece, studio 2PiA has renovated an existing 1950s building to create the neon bakery and coffee shop. the recently refurbished space is located in the village of dalamanara and occupies a prominent position on the national highway between argos and nafplio. with this in mind, the new baked goods store and café is designed as a welcome pit-stop for passersby.

exterior view at sunset, all images © pygmalion karatzas

studio 2PiA resurfaced the exterior of the building to create a simple and pure aesthetic that can be quickly read by passing drivers. the existing adobe walls have been painted white and clad in wavy perforated aluminium sheets, which the architect describes as a ‘fine dress’. the space in between the old walls and the new cladding system allows for all the services and ancillary infrastructure, such as the sliding doors, gutters, lights, cameras and alarms.

exterior view at sunset

at night the bakery becomes a beacon thanks to the diffused lighting that permeates through the perforated sheets. in this way the building doesn’t need signs, as the light itself invites customers inside. the original hipped-gable roof shape has been retained, but the byzantine tiles have been replaced by the white render of the external insulation. all the gutters and rainwater pipes are hidden either within the roof or behind the new cladding, creating a clean silhouette. 

entrance view from the main road 

for the interior, the polished concrete flooring and the white pleated gypsum walls behind the counters create a clean aesthetic that allows the products to take center stage. in contrast to the light-colored surfaces, the counters and food trays are black to present the delicious array of baked goods, pastries and beverages. the indoor space also includes a small citrus tree in the middle of the plan, which brings an element of nature into the renovated architecture. 

detail of perforated aluminium sheets

exterior elevation viewed from from parking area

close up side view

detail of the façade

interior view from main entrance

interior view of neon bakery 

night view of main façade

neon bakery at dusk 

project info:

project name: neon bakery & coffee 

location: dalamanara, argolis, greece

project type: commercial / service / renovation / redesign / interior design

architects: studio 2Pi architecture (panagiotis papassotiriou)

completion year: 2019

photography: pygmalion karatzas

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