KORA Bakery Steers Away from Traditional Bakery Aesthetic

June 30, 2022
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By 
Rick Formalejo

En-Route-Architecture emphasized the essential ingredients of designing a bakery: space and baked goods, when it designed the KORA Bakery in Athens. The Athens-based architecture firm wanted to steer away from the traditional concept of bakery aesthetics. The initial space, however, offered an unusually elevated and recessed terrace space since it is located slightly off the main commercial streets of Athens.

More Than Just The Bread

This project aims to celebrate the bakery’s sales and production. Customers will not only see the baked goods when they visit the store. They will also have a glimpse of the production process. The storefront and the bakery represent a space for the production and display of baked goods. 

The architect explained that the presentation of these goods and the production process are conceived as a transparent spectacle. These features are perceived through a gigantic wall of rotating metal shelves. The store also has changing scenarios of open, semi-open, and closed facades. These elements allow customers to view different types of products and the production space itself.

An interactive perforated metal wall connected the threshold between inside and outside. It is a kinetic wall that can function as a shutter, an aperture, or a display surface. The metal wall consists of 50 individual trays that rotate independently around a central axis in unique positions. 

When vertical, the trays offer the least transparency while allowing for views of silhouettes and light coming through the perforation of the metal. When horizontal, meanwhile, they offer the maximum transparency by acting as a functional surface for display, ready to accommodate a plethora of baked goods. The 45-degree angle lets customers get a partial view of the background and it is an ideal product display.

The kinetic wall always changes in its outer appearance through the addition and sale of various goods. It acts as a shutter, boundary towards the outside, aperture to the spectacle of baking, and a mechanism for displaying baked products. 

Beyond The Aesthetic

The overall look of the bakery has an impact on attracting customers. Beyond that, food establishments also have to consider the maintenance of the place and keeping it clean. The architect explained hygiene and maintenance played a crucial role in the selection of materials and colors. 

The light-colored, durable, and non-porous surfaces of the lower half, along with the moveable kitchen machinery, embody atmospheric lightness. These areas require daily cleaning and low maintenance. On the other hand, the elements on the ceiling and above the required hygienic level of 2 meters relate to mechanical and lighting systems. 

Moreover, the second facade is more visible from the street level because of the elevated feature of the space. The architect applied a monochromatic color tone that complements the existing upper building to camouflage the incoherent industrial character of such devices. The ceiling and all its details become less prominent while improving access and adaptability through the full exposure of mechanical and lighting elements. 

The incorporation of functional elements on the interior complements the perpetually changing presentation in and around the facade. KORA Bakery has turned producing and consuming baked goods into a performance where the boundaries between performers and spectators are blurred.

Photos from Mariana Bisti

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