Naya Beach Bar & Restaurant sits directly on Faliraki Beach in Rhodes, Greece. The idea was simple: good living through natural materials, natural colours and light. The design steps away from the familiar boho and ethnic beach styles and looks instead to the island’s Italian architectural heritage, translating domes, arches and soft wave forms into contemporary organic shapes.
The heart of the project is a monumental timber pergola carrying five perforated aluminium domes. Through the day, sunlight filters through the custom pattern, lighting and shading the space at the same time; the moving shadows bring out the stone, timber, marble-effect porcelain and industrial flooring and keep the space changing from morning to sunset. At night, purpose-designed pendant lights make the domes glow from within. Under the pergola sit the show kitchen and the bar, with uninterrupted views of the sea.
Terraces of industrial flooring and timber decking step down from the restaurant towards the sand, linked by a sculptural staircase in béton ciré. Circulation is organised into distinct areas for dining, drinking and lounging, letting light and air move freely and keeping the beach, the sea and the sunset always in view. At the lower level, the deck breaks up into small, relaxed seating islands right on the beach. Planting and water create a cool microclimate around the whole.
The result is a calm, multi-sensory place that belongs to its landscape: an elegant structure full of light and movement that celebrates the character of the island.
Winner – BIG SEE Interior Design Award 2023
Nominee – Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2022
Architecture, lighting design, site supervision and interior design: Eleni Karimali Architect
Photography: Miltiadis Louizidis (Milton Louiz Photography)
Construction: RBN construction · Stonework: Martin Stone · Perforated aluminium: Metalskin · Lighting: Electroinvest Rhodes, VK Led · Furniture: Almeco · Signage: Hedera · Marble-effect porcelain: Level Marmi – Macchia Vecchia by Level (Emilgroup) · Terrazzo-effect porcelain: Medley Green by Ergon (Emilgroup) · Tiles: Tselios Bagno · Mirrors: Kappos Yalodynamiki
Completion: June 2021 · Area: 450 m² of interiors on a 1,000 m² site
