Anther - from Ancient Greek antheros (ἀνθηρός), meaning flowery or blooming - is a restaurant and bar located on Agia Eirini Square in central Athens. In botany, an Anther stands for a life-giving force that surrounds the center of a flower. A force that has the power to feed and transform its environment. Similarly, Anther restaurant offers an unusually large dining space for its neighborhood and Athens in general. Located on the ground floor of the Perianth Hotel, the restaurant’s cylindrical bar relates to all sides of its interior facades and adjacent streets. Built in the 1930s, the distinctively grey building belongs to the modern wave of interwar architecture.
A period characterized by curvilinear volumes that captured dynamic movement through built mass. It created an unprecedented architectural presence of buildings, that was achieved through simplicity, gentle curves and a focus on material textures. The spatial design of Anther is equally based on simple geometries that embody a certain lightness and distinct appearance. Different types of seating orbit around the center of the cylindrical bar. Made of red terrazzo fiber cement, it appears to be carved out from a larger piece in order to integrate different uses.
The preparation of food and drinks thus becomes the main spectacle and point of orientation. While guests simultaneously relate to the bar and adjacent streets, the staff enjoys optimal visibility in a panopticon-like constellation. Mechanical elements and lights are hidden in the suspended circular ceiling above. The surrounding leaf ceiling diffuses sound and adds a visual texture to the space.
Guests of the hotel can access the restaurant space from the lobby through two large doors that are hidden in the backside wall. This wall - with its backlit and undulating wooden louvers - appears like a frozen curtain that acts as an additional sound absorbing element and source for atmospheric lighting. Overall, the space is characterized by a generous layout, rich material textures and strong natural colors. The intensity of the interior complements the monochromatic façade of the building.
