Avli by tashas is a discovery of Greek soul and modern beauty. Avli, which means courtyard in Greek, is a space where families and friends come together and share their stories. We wanted to capture this truly soulful ambience along with the essence of Athenian culture in an unconventional manner.
The brief was to create an experience that drew inspiration from Greek forms and their honest culture whilst being relevant today. The experience had to reflect the complexity of Greek resilience, innovation and art without resulting in a stereotypical palette and approach.
The materiality and design approach stemmed from our research trip to South Africa and Greece. We wanted pieces to be handmade, local, relevant, and sustainable. We engaged artisans to complete bespoke pieces for the project. Solid timbers, metals and natural stones were used to ensure that we stayed true to the concept. The layering of textures was crucial to bring the Athenian grit to life.
Each part of the customer journey was treated individually to create multiple elements of discovery throughout the space; a carved sandstone storefront is surrounded by olive trees reminiscent of simple villas strewn along the Cypriot coastline, the cavernous entrance houses art pieces curated from various artists in Greece, South Africa and Australia; the entrance lobby showcases a magnificent mosaic art inlay of horses and greek forms and a whimsical installation overhead mimics stone washed linens drying in an olive grove.
Avli by tashas is a departure from current dining concepts in the UAE as it is imperfectly perfect. No polished surfaces or perfectly curved corners while still exemplifying sophistication and elegance.
Material Used :
1. Terrazzo LTD – Terrazzo Floors – Custom Design
2. BW Interiors – Fit Out Contractor
3. Flos – Lighting – Find Me Mono
4. Glaze – Marble and Granite
