Initially  in the place of the restaurant existed an enormous “box like” building  in the centre of the plot.  

It was designed for parking space and the land perimetrically of the building  would be transformed in garden.The risk was, this ungrateful “box” to be transformed in a restaurant, a catering space and not only that, it was meant to be transformed in a restaurant with mainly Greek  flavors and simultaneously a space for parties, particularly popular in the wide region of Miami (private parties and companies’ parties). 

The plot is placed in a node of avenues, between the ocean and the eminent channels of Fort Lauderdale. It is also surrounded of skyscrapers and mid century very high buildings of residences, known masterpieces of this architectural era.I immediately realized that because of the unique location of the plot and all the above factors, it was a unique opportunity to create a landmark.  

Moreover, I wanted to avoid anything that would have been related with Greek folklore, something that is very common abroad. I drew my inspiration from the Greek Aegean landscape and from photographs of island settlements of the decade the '50s, showing the contrast of the openings, doors and windows, with the white buildings of the Aegean residences and the paradox of them being so harmonious in their inconsistency. 

This pattern, with the asymmetrical rectangles, prevailed in the design concept of the whole space. Initially, in the exterior of the building a nutshell was created with the characteristic rectangle voids in the place of the doors and windows giving them color with light and afterwards the projection of this application was used for the design of the roof of the internal space, creating colorful luminous reflections. 

The main color is white with small color touches that are renewed each season. The materials that I have used are basically the materials that are used in these Aegean settlements. The floor is white concrete, the walls are covered with stone, painted white just like as in a traditional house on the island, the bar top is made of white marble, the roofs are covered by canes or joists, while big ceramic traditional pots -at least 100 years old- are planted with olives and other Mediterranean plants.

Project details

 
Project: Thasos Greek Tavern

Location:  3330 E Oakland Park Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308, USA

Architectural design: Angelos Angelopoulos