On one of the busiest pedestrian streets of Larissa, just steps away from the main square, the new Balais Bakery reinterprets the contemporary retail experience through a dialogue of materiality, light, and movement.
The compact 34 sq.m. space is organized with precision: a wooden shell made of natural oak, woven diagonally, wraps around the building and reinforces its presence in the public realm. This pattern, an abstract reference to the wheat sheaf — a symbol of the bakery tradition — creates a vibrant texture that invites the visitor in. The large opening with folding glass doors allows the interior to flow into the adjacent arcade, expanding the scale of the small shop and enhancing its connection to the urban environment.
Inside, the layout follows the linearity of the space: a long service counter and a generous circulation corridor define the visitor’s movement. The wooden pattern of the façade is echoed in shelving and wall cladding, subtly connecting the exterior with the interior.
Materiality focuses on a natural palette: dark anthracite ceramic tiles with white mosaic patterns on the floors, white Corian countertops, and distinctive white pendant lights floating above the warm wooden textures. The result is a space where the timelessness of bakery tradition meets the contemporary clarity of form.
The new Balais Bakery transforms tradition into a light, everyday experience, where simplicity and the handmade essence prevail.
