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A Greek Taverna on the Beach, Breeze Included

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A Greek Taverna on the Beach, Breeze Included

May 19, 2014

Ftelia Beach on the Greek island of Mykonos is hot, dry, and windy–very windy. Idyllic conditions for wind surfers–but what about the spectators left behind on the beach?

Our photographer friend Lydia Chroni recommends the charms of Alemí gou, a new interpretation of the traditional Greek taverna designed by Athens architecture firm K-Studio. Concocting a trendy bar and restaurant out of traditional Cycladic architecture and construction, the design channels the force of the wind as a cooling element. Alemagou provides the spectators of Ftelia Beach a spot of their own (fittingly, the word alemagou is Mykonian for “at last”).

Photographs by Yiorgos Kordakis via Yatzer.

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Above: Sunlight filters through the reeds, providing light and shade at the same time.

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Above: Studio-K used traditional reed thatching to create a 24-inch-deep canopy. As the strong winds blow, the reeds circulate the air, creating a continuous airflow, keeping the restaurant and bar area cool.

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Above: Traditional whitewashed, smooth-edged forms rise out of the sandy beach.

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Above: The dry stone walls are also borrowed from traditional building techniques.

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Above: Pendant shades are made out of pumpkin gourds, a historical solution to not being able to afford light fixtures.

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Above: The bar steps down from the restaurant to the beach.

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Above: A harmonious blend of the modern and traditional.

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Above: Sinks have been fashioned out of stones.

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Above: The view of Alemí gou at night.

N.B. Looking for more places to eat and drink in Europe? See 720 images of European Bars and Restaurants in our Gallery of rooms and spaces. For a high-style new taverna in San Francisco, check out Souvla.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on July 16, 2012 as part of our A La Plage issue.

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