Athens, December 2 – The inner-city Koukaki neighbourhood of Athens is now home to Voulkanizater, a new listening bar and restaurant that creatively repurposes a former tyre workshop. The establishment, designed by George Vlasis Pakalidis and Artemis Valyraki, draws heavily on its industrial heritage, integrating elements such as original concrete walls, wheel rims, and car parts into its unique aesthetic.
From Tyre Shop to Trendy Eatery: The Voulkanizater Concept
The name ‘Voulkanizater’ itself is a direct nod to the building’s past, derived from the Greek word for a tyre-fixing place. “The space and location of the current bar was previously a tyre-fixing, or vulcanisation, place – in Greek voulkanizater, βουλκανιζατέρ, from the French word vulcanisateur, which is the name of the restaurant too,” Pakalidis told Dezeen. This decision reflects a desire to preserve the memory of the area’s long history of tyre shops, even as the neighbourhood undergoes rapid gentrification.
The designers opted to keep the building’s original concrete walls, providing a raw, industrial backdrop. To counteract this roughness and introduce a sense of warmth, wood was extensively used. “The materials we used were wood, for sustainability purposes and to warm up the space, in contrast to the rough pre-existing concrete walls that we kept and metal to add an industrial feel in textures that you can find in these tyre shops,” Pakalidis explained. Metal elements further enhance the industrial theme, appearing in furniture and as a central feature of the bar area.
Innovative Design Elements and Acoustic Considerations
A striking design feature is the use of old wheel rims as ceiling decorations above the bar. These rims are strategically placed on metal beams within a metal lightbox and illuminated by LED lights, creating a captivating visual effect. Similarly, a metal car part serves as a decorative element in the bathroom, positioned above the sink. Pakalidis emphasized this artistic approach, stating, “We tried to approach the space as an art piece rather than just a restaurant hall.” The inclusion of these elements, he noted, is an “extension of this story, trying to reference the old use of the space in an unexpected way, adding a little detail to the whole experience.”
The interior design also draws inspiration from vintage logos and signatures of classic tyre companies like Michelin. Beyond aesthetics, functionality was a key consideration. The ceiling is covered with acoustic panels, ensuring optimal sound conditions for the listening bar aspect of the venue. Additionally, a large curtain covering the facade offers flexibility for privacy and contributes to improved acoustics.
Spatial Layout and Ambiance
Pakalidis and Valyraki implemented a “box-in-a-box” concept for the space. An inner volume houses the kitchen, storage facilities, and restrooms, while the bar and restaurant areas form an outer ring around this central core. The bar itself takes centre stage, serving as a focal point within the establishment.
The colour palette of Voulkanizater is predominantly dark, featuring grey concrete and brown wood walls, which are complemented by the contrasting metal furniture. To further enhance the ambiance, the restaurant is equipped with light projectors and a sophisticated lighting control system, allowing for dynamic adjustments to the mood of the space as required.
Voulkanizater joins a growing list of notable design projects in Athens, including a jewellery store with intricate metalwork and the art-filled Ace Hotel housed in a brutalist building. The photography for Voulkanizater was captured by Giorgos Sfakianakis.
Project Credits:
- Architecture and branding: George Vlasis Pakalidis, Artemis Valyraki
- Light designer: Afrodite Neri
- Creative direction: Nepheli-Ophelia Sachverdyan
Source: https://www.dezeen.com/2025/12/02/athens-voulkanizater-restaurant-koukaki-wheel-rims-car-parts/
