Kristina Zanic Consultants are the winners of the Restaurant Within a Hotel – Europe Award in The International Hotel and Property Awards 2022.

This project involved the design of an all-day fine dining indoor space within the Domes Zeen resort in Chania, Crete, for guests and visitors looking for an authentic local dining experience with a modern twist. The restaurant opens out onto additional seating on the adjacent deck and a stunning view of the pool and ocean. Kristina Zanic Consultants’ involvement in the project included the concept and schematic design of the public dining area of the restaurant.

The concept was born out of Kristina Zanic Consultants lead designer’s memories of her grandmother’s ‘Katoi’ in Greece – the basement floor full of shelves laden with bottles of oil and wine, and vegetable sacks, with a large wine mill taking pride of place at the centre of the space. ‘Trigos’ is the time of year in Greece when the village comes together to harvest grapes in baskets, and homes are milling with people working to produce the wine of the area. The client required a design that is a modern reflection of Cretan life, inspired by layers of history and one of the most sophisticated civilizations of its time. Enino Restaurant combines these memories, traditions, and experiences; its ethos is ‘Modern Minoan’ and celebrates the rich and ancient traditions of trade and craftsmanship in pottery and art, with a modern, luxury interpretation.

Following Kristina Zanic Consultants’ inspirations for the project, an idea was born of a ‘modern Katoi’ – every home’s basement floor that holds the all-important wine-mill. There is a saying in Greece that “wine is a gift from the god Dionysos and the work of human hands”. Wine plays an important role in Greek culture and the concept celebrates this tradition. The space uses natural, tactile materials like wood, leather and rattan and a warm and welcoming colour palette for a comfortable and familiar atmosphere. Local craftsmanship is showcased in the major display areas to tie the design to its history, location, and culture.

The design includes a wine cellar that combines old and new, with a sensitive and subtle approach to highlighting local traditions. It showcases an old display of pots on either side that look like they were discovered there, protected in a glass case. Guests will have the opportunity to visit this room to choose a bottle of wine from the display unit. The wine-making tradition is highlighted through a large wine mill that serves as a main design feature but repurposed into a round tabletop, where guests can select their wine and have a more casual lounge dining experience.

Kristina Zanic Consultants

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