As architects, one of the most rewarding aspects of the job is becoming part of a city’s story, through new forms and through spaces that are quietly waiting to be remembered. 

The restoration of Guest Bar allowed us to step into that story with care. We weren’t starting from scratch, we were building onto a foundation hundreds of years old, and doing it in a way that keeps the energy of the past alive, back into the everyday lives of the people who live in it. Housed in a centuries-old heritage building, the project was approached with equal parts reverence and imagination. We treated the architectural fabric with care, preserving the original volumes, stabilizing the structure, and leaving the timeworn textures exposed. The idea was to create a bar for people to gather, wander through, and enjoy without pretense. So we introduced a sense of play and personality through bold furnishings, pops of color, and custom elements made by local craftspeople. 

The formerly quiet courtyard is now the heart of the experience: reimagined as a lively garden bar, complete with climbing plants, pergola shade, and repurposed decorative touches that feel casual, layered, and totally alive. By day it’s breezy and calm, and by night it glows—becoming a space that invites people to linger in the good oldfashioned and laid back Mediterranean way.