The project is about a long-established grocery in N.Psychiko, a meeting place for many Athenians and a reference point for the everyday shopping routine. A place in the city which sells fresh fruits and vegetables indicates the change of seasons, evokes smells and celebrates colours and tastes, within a hasty urban context.

In a play of multiple reflections and refractions, the project explores the relationship between the natural fields and the city and initiates a dialogue between geography, architecture and human scale. Materials of a desaturated palette, and with various levels of reflectivity – i.e. clear mirror, stainless steel, galvanized steel, silver paint- multiply the space and offer a neutral backdrop to the colourful products, thus, creating an infinite “field”, an expansive landscape of fruits and vegetables. The narrow and long space is arranged in two levels, with the upper one operating as back of house, whereas the full width and open façade allows the daylight to come in throughout the day. Four distinct metal objects organize the entire space and act as full height dividers, counters, fridges and portable display shelves. Additional polycarbonate panels are used to both obscure and reveal services, movement and products.

Credits

Design Team: Eleni Vagianou, Tasos Theodorakakis  |  Contractor: Vassilis Koumoulentzos  |  Steelworks: Charalampos Katsimichas  |  Photography: Yiorgis Yerolymbos