KoumKan — Manhattan Projects

Owned by Dakis Joannou – the entrepreneur, philanthropist, and global art patron – the Semiramis Hotel is part of a collection of art-infused hotels conceived by world-renowned designers. When it first opened in the early 2000s, the Karim Rashid-designed Semiramis made a bold statement, shocking the well-healed Kifisia district with its splashy, lollipop-colored aesthetic. Since then, a series of renovations detached the restaurant-bar from the hotel’s signature identity.

The redesigned space, dubbed Koumkan after the women’s card game from the 1920s, reconnects the restaurant to the DNA of Semiramis while tapping into the contemporary culinary, cultural, and social sensibilities of Athens – a city on the upswing.

Koumkan combines the distinctive attributes of the hotel with the decadence, grandeur, and whimsy of the timeless hotel cocktail lounges found in global cities – all filtered through a minimalist lens. It is conceived as a microcosm of the public layer of grand hotels, offering a scaled down enfilade through a series of different spaces and atmospheres.

Foyer

Descending down a travertine ceremonial staircase from the street, visitors are greeted by a densely vegetated garden duplicated by a mirror on the opposite wall. An oversized center-pivot door leads to the Foyer, a rose-tinted reception area bathed in soft, diffuse light – a palette cleanser from the bustling city above. Consisting of just two book-matched travertine walls floating among mirrors, the multiplication effect of the Foyer heightens the pure sense of luxury afforded by barely occupied space.

Parlor

A hidden mirror door ushers guests into the Parlor, a bar room entirely clad in green marble from the island of Tinos. Overlooked as waste since the 1930s because of its uneven veins, this monolithic chunk of stone is carved into high-top banquettes, shelves, a DJ booth, a bar, and even footrests. The continuous surface of the mirrored ceiling above amplifies this uncanny effect, akin to stepping into a quarry. Flute-like vintage stainless steel sconces from the 1960s – “fugas” – bathe the intimate high-top banquette nooks and a corner sofa in warm, indirect light. A custom-designed horizontal chandelier that borrows elements from the fugas hovers over the length of the bar.

Grande Salle

Two abbreviated corridors on either side of the Parlor bar frame a view of the Grande Salle, an exuberant lounge, cocktail bar, and restaurant. This exuberant space is defined by a soaring, kaleidoscopic atrium entirely covered in 7-meter mirrors that surround and reflect a pair of 4-meter custom chandeliers. The two exploded modernist columns each consist of mirror-polished metal reflectors in a cross formation, which redirect light and obscure its source.

Below this inside-out disco ball, the curving banquettes trace a series of boomerang shapes over the alternating checkerboard pattern of the soft pink sisal carpet. The central banquettes, split into two sections, allow diners to see and be seen, while the intimate tables tucked into the walls grant a degree of privacy. Matching the curvature of the banquettes, the “banana bar” – a streamlined chunk of pink travertine – thrusts dramatically into the space.

Influenced by British abstract artist William Streng’s paintings, the Grande Salle features a mix of dark and light fleshy tones – reminiscent of scratches or bruises, a far cry from the loud bubblegum variety of “Barbie pink.” In keeping with these subtle bodily pinks, a local textile artisan that produces fabrics for The Vatican and the Orthodox Church created custom textiles for the banquettes that were dyed using traditional techniques.

The wall stucco, also “scratchy,” adds texture and depth, amplifying the raw, sensuous quality of the space.Together, the blush-colored minerals, richly-layered fabrics, and reflective elements create a distinct sense of euphoria tempered by a refined elegance.

Grotto

The Grande Salle spills into the exterior Grotto, a lush, semi-sheltered lounge area that bridges a renovated interior with the existing hotel pool deck. This cave-like space uses local materials and artisanal technique to physically and metaphorically embrace the bean-shaped pool -- a West Coast or Tropical architectural import. The walls are covered in a peach-pink terra cotta that transforms the ambient light into a flattering glow.

The balance of the space is finished in 30x30cm pastel pink travertine tiles rotated in a herringbone pattern to recall the Grande Salle’s sisal carpeting. These tiles morph into a new pool bar that steps out in a reversed ziggurat form. The entire Grotto is submerged just below the pool’s waterline, allowing diners to be seated at a voyeuristic eye level with swimmers.

Furniture, fixtures, and artwork

A combination of antiques, commissioned artwork, and custom-designed furniture throughout Koumakan introduce a contemporary feel while aligning with the hotel’s retro-futuristic ambiance. This includes the Grotto’s chrome-polished stainless steel chairs, which draw inspiration from 1950s Mediterranean Riviera style.

As an internationally renowned art collector who founded the DESTE foundation and regularly commissions work by Jeff Koons, George Kondo, and many other artists, Dakis Joannou was committed to spotlighting emerging artists (“Greek Swans”) in the space. Among these are the signature custom black chairs by Ellie Joannou, part of the #YOU Project, as well as her signature mirror pieces, #sneakpeek. The space also features one-of-a-kind giant ceramics by Elina Vassilakis (Kalopsia) and mirrors inspired by ancient Greek goddesses by Olga Migliaressi Pocha. At the entrance, a small piece by Alexandra Dore titled “Mama Issues” greets visitors, setting the perverse, irreverent tone of Koumkan.

As a whole, Koumkan evokes the feel of an interwar bar in Milan or Vienna – but entirely free of mannerisms. Its ceilings are crafted from stretched mirrors and details rely on architectural elements rather than traditional ornamentation. There are no crown moldings or baroque motifs, but the layout itself carries a baroque sensibility, twisting and flowing in unexpected ways – a new kind of destination for unscripted encounters between visitors and Athenians of all backgrounds and persuasions.