CAFE MAO

Drawing references from the Museum of Ancient Olympia and the surrounding Archaeological site, A&M redesigned the historical site’s newest F&B units. The concessions are run by a family business with great experience in hospitality over the last 3 decades that trusted CORE’s team to constuct their project and deliver a holistic new experience to its customers. The first unit is built as an extension of the museum adopting elements of the Mediterranean nature. The new all-day Café-Bistro and its dedicated exhibition area contribute to a unique experience while emphasizing the Greek hospitality. The interiors develop around a central core, where product exhibition islets are placed in a way to mimic a museum journey, while monumentality is evident through the use of firm materials and monolithic morphologies. Dedicated customer service zones are identified using colors and distinct geometries indicating each separate path, while the back of house preparation zones are kept private. The relationship of the café areas with their surroundings is established through a direct access to the Museum’s atrium with large openings overlooking the pavilion of the archeological site. To take advantage of these beautiful surroundings, custom designed seating areas with planters and zones of loose furniture were included in the scheme. The second unit sits on a unique landscape in the heart of the archaeological site. It follows the aesthetic & functional principles explored previously and welcomes its visitors. Apart from the rich natural shading provided by the surrounding trees, elegant pergolas were designed in the Café ‘s outdoor space allowing shaded areas, especially during the intense Greek summer period.