ÉLA Concept for Mykonos Airport

We were invited to design the new architectural identity for ÉLA — a contemporary Greek deli-café concept located inside Mykonos International Airport.

Our approach was rooted in the language of Cycladic architecture: curved volumes, bright whites, and filtered light. But this was not a nostalgic gesture. We were interested in how this vernacular could be reinterpreted within a high-traffic commercial environment — as something light, sculptural, and precise.

The design revolves around soft geometries, local textures, and an informal rhythm that echoes the relaxed tempo of the island. Triangular perforations in the walls filter light and create a tactile backdrop. Natural materials — straw, wood, stone — are combined with integrated greenery, forming a palette that is both fresh and rooted in place.

Each unit (coffee counter, gelato bar, breakfast corner, seating lounge) was conceived as a distinct micro-space, but part of a continuous atmosphere. The gesture was not to design a café, but to craft a small, architectural moment of Mykonos — inside an airport.

The result is a spatial experience that is both grounded and elevated. Commercial, but calm. Local, but contemporary.