RAISING THE ROOF
A cool spot
All eyes are on Barbouni, a naturally unique beach
bar and restaurant burrowed in the sand dunes of
the popular Costa Navarino Resort in Greece.
WHAT’S ON
KZN Construction Expo
20 to 21 February 2019
Durban Exhibition Centre, Durban
www.kzn-construction.co.za
Corobrik Architectural Student of
the Year Awards
8 May 2019
The Maslow Hotel, Sandton,
Johannesburg
www.corobrik.co.za
ITC-SA Roof Inspection Training
21 to 23 May 2019
SAFCA Building, Isando,
Johannesburg
www.itc-sa.org
African Construction and Totally
Concrete Expo
11 to 13 June 2019
Gallagher Convention Centre,
Midrand, Johannesburg
www.totallyconcrete.co.za
Barbouni’s most striking feature is its undulating roof that moves with the wind.
A
ccording to K-Studio, the Athens-
based Greek architectural design
company behind Barbouni’s
sweeping design, “The concept is holistic, with
every element of the project telling a common
story and coming together to create an
inspirational yet laidback atmosphere,
perfectly suited to the site.”
Inspired by the surrounding surreal
landscape, K-Studio combined purposely
designed and naturally occurring elements to
create a multi-sensory architecture that sits in
harmony with the environment.
Nestled on a wooden platform elevated
from the sand, waves break beneath the
restaurant. The building structure is formed by
a grid of natural wooden columns – amongst
them, like a sand castle, an L-shaped volume
rendered in sand, sits among the ‘forest’ of
tree trunks to house all the facility areas, such
as kitchen, restrooms and storage.
But the bar’s boldest feature is its undulating
roof – over the table area an inverted field of
hanging fabric sheets forms the swaying canopy
that breathes life with the wind, allowing air to
circulate and the space to stay cool.
Throughout the day sunlight filters through
the sheets, lighting and shading the space
2
JAN - FEB 2019
CLADDING // CONCRETE // INSULATION // STEEL // THATCH // TIMBER // TRANSLUCENT // WATERPROOFING // COMPONENTS
simultaneously. The animated ceiling
resembles the waves on the beach and offers a
rhythm to the restaurant, just like breathing,
highlights K-Studio.
Made out of a specialised outdoor curtain
fabric, the roof moves in smooth motion when
hit by the breeze – the ceiling ripples at
different speeds depending on how windy it is,
echoing the ebb and flow of the ocean
and landscape.
“The combination of these purposely
designed and naturally occurring elements
creates a multi-sensory architecture that sits
in harmony with the environment, provides a
natural, comfortable refuge from the elements
and creates an exciting, sociable atmosphere,”
elaborate the architects.
The project has been showered with praise
– in 2013 it was nominated for the European
Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture’s
Mies van der Rohe Award and shortlisted in
the Best European Restaurant Category of the
Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2012.
KwaZulu-Natal Industrial
Technology Exhibition (KITE)
24 to 26 July 2019
Durban Exhibition Centre, Durban
www.kznindustrial.co.za
Cape Construction Expo
11 to 12 September 2019
Sun Exhibits, GrandWest, Cape Town
www.cape-construction.co.za
Interbuild Africa
29 July to 1 August 2020
Johannesburg Expo Centre,
Nasrec, Johannesburg
www.interbuild.co.za
Until next time ...
Candace Sofianos King | senior writer
[email protected]
www.saroofing.co.za