Maza is an Espresso Bar that brings traditional Greek Recipes to New York, celebrating Greek flavours, the Mediterranean diet and the pleasures of eating out. The bar’s architectural impression is that of a traditional brick wood-fired oven, which consisted the source of inspiration for its design. The use of form, material and light creates a fireside atmosphere, similar to that of the archetypal Ancient Greek ‘Hestia’, a fireplace and center of the Ancient Greek home. On entering Maza, the customer is welcomed in a space designed to evoke a feeling of relaxed domesticity. The traditional brick oven is partially deconstructed and built in wood, enfolding the space. The seating and cooking area, placed underneath the imposing vault ceiling, allows one to immerse in a visual journey of scale, light and symbolism.
Copper and iron have been used extensively, referencing traditional utensils dating back to the 7th century AD, as well as sanctuary lamps and ritual objects of the time. Historically, the hestia (hearth) was the heart and essence of a household, essential for food preparation, warmth and the completion of sacrificial offerings to deities. The extensive use of hammered copper surfaces heightens the fireside feel. Light bounces off the copper surfaces and travels through the space, creating glaring reflections much like crackling flames.
Maza’s fiery brief is a warm welcome, turning the neighborhood to a ‘shared hearth’, charged by the energy of its guests.
