Chan Restaurant | Andy Martin Architecture

The AMA design concept for Chan - a 'pan-Asian' restaurant and bar at The Met Hotel in Thessaloniki, Greece - is a lively fusion of modern aesthetic and traditional Asian motifs. The internal dining space is 230sqm and 150sqm for external dining in the hotel's courtyard. Access to the restaurant is via discreet entrances from the hotel and the street, leading into the impressive and softly lit venue. AMA extensively researched The Met brief with trips to Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia; trying to seek out the essence of distinctly modern Asian cuisine. Andy Martin said: “I wanted to create a truly sumptuous atmosphere without the stereotypical visual references. We looked at the contrast which exists between traditional and contemporary Asian culture, the duality which exists between the two and have tried to integrate that sense into our design." The restaurant’s interior was conceived as a dynamic masculine space, with its furniture being both tactile and feminine. The seating is arranged in a central sculptural form which floats within the charcoal anodized box. Intricately crafted, the luxurious semi-private seating makes Chan cosy and intimate with seating booths catering for two or larger groups. There lies a dramatic sense of layering within the space; from the graphically lit wall panels and open grid ceilings, to the engraved detailing on the tables. Tattooed graphics on upholstery and 21st century ‘manga’ interpretations within the cocktail lounge help this become an experience of Asian street culture and cosmopolitan sophistication.