For a design firm, getting the chance to re-partner with a past client can pose an exciting opportunity — and a meaningful challenge. On the one hand, there’s already a certain level of trust established, encouraging greater creative risk. But that also creates pressure for any follow-up projects to meaningfully build on their predecessors’ success — without just delivering more of the same. All of this was top of mind when the Kerasiotis brothers (who run the Vancouver hospitality group Gaia House) announced that they were re-teaming with local studio &Daughters, this time for a 195-square-metre Greek restaurant in East Vancouver dubbed Selene. Mamma Mia, here we go again!

Sure enough, the outcome represents a rousing second act. While the gang’s first collaboration (the moody, sci fi-inflected AMA raw bar, which opened last year to great fanfare) referenced Blade Runner 2049, this sequel calls to mind Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan belting out ABBA songs on the Mediterranean coast. 

That said, as much as Selene draws inspiration from the Greek Islands, it also marks a clear departure from typical depictions of the seaside destination, avoiding a blue-and-white palette in favour of a more muted, atmospheric style. Much of this identity is achieved through the project’s use of richly textured materials. Concrete floors, quartz countertops and grey plaster walls evoke both the volcanic cliffs and the whitewashed architecture that define the geography of the Cyclades, creating an earthy, elemental environment.

Visual accents introduce another layer of nautical character by referencing the fishing community that heads out into the Aegean sea each morning. Weathered ropes wrap around columns and handrails, while natural rattan lampshades reflect the wicker creel baskets used to transport fresh catches. Continuing this emphasis on natural, regionally authentic materials, solid pine wood chairs reference a key species of tree found throughout Greek landscapes — and by extension, a common material used to make Greek furniture. 

Wooden ceiling trellises introduce even more pine into the mix. By obscuring the LED fixtures above, they also create the suggestion of skylights, amplifying the calm, ethereal ambience of the setting. In yet another celebration of nature, an olive tree anchors the bistro, acting as a landmark for orienting oneself when moving between the reception area, dining room, bar and chef’s table.

But it is ultimately Selene’s hand-painted frescoes that play the most important role in defining the dining experience. Vancouver artist Emiko Mizukami’s illustrations depict Greek gods — namely, Gaia, Uranus, Helios and Hyperion — alongside sea creatures like starfish and octopus, all drawn with fun, imaginative flair. Selene, the goddess of the moon, who lends her name to the restaurant, is given special prominence in a fifth mural by the entrance.

The restaurant exterior introduces a final connection to Greece, but also to local history. While Selene is part of a new-build residential development, its site had previously been home to a Mediterranean-style house. As a result of Vancouver’s historical preservation requirements, the developers behind the project were required to recreate the facade of the structure that they were replacing. As a result, Selene is tucked behind an appropriately villa-like entrance. This facade signals that that the restaurant inside will transport you to the Aegean Sea — but in another sense, it also keeps the project firmly rooted in its corner of Vancouver, just off the Pacific Ocean.