Lyra Greek Restaurant Jesmonite Tiles
A commission to create a floral Jesmonite relief tile to wrap around the interior of Amriya Group's new restaurant, Lyra. Lyra is a luxury Greek seafood restaurant based in Bahrain on the shore of Marassi Beach. The brand is based on the myth of Orpheus, a legendary musician in Greek Mythology whose music could coax flowers and rocks into dance.
The tile pattern features a botanical composition centered around the lyre, symbolizing the story of Orpheus. Designed to be repeatable, these tiles will form a continuous patterned frieze around the restaurant's interior, adding a touch of artistic elegance to the space. The low, ambient lighting will cast shadows across the carvings, giving depth and movement to the florals, as though they are dancing around the lyre, enhancing the overall atmosphere with dynamic visual interest.
Design concept
The project features two landscape repeatable tiles, with the lyre as the central focus of the design. Intricate florals intertwine and grow from the lyre, creating the illusion of flowers dancing to music, inspired by the myth of Orpheus.
The left tile highlights Violets, which were believed to bloom wherever Orpheus rested his lyre. It also features Haberlea, known as Orpheus' flower, said to have sprung from his tears.
The right tile showcases White Asphodels, a flower associated with the Greek underworld, reflecting Orpheus' journey in the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. Additionally, the Madonna Lily is included, symbolising Persephone, the wife of Hades, and adding depth to the mythological narrative.
Design Process
The process began with pencil sketches to explore the composition and flow of the lyre and botanical elements. These initial sketches helped establish the overall design. Next, flat vector colours in shades of purple were applied to differentiate the layers, indicating which areas would recede and which would overlap in the foreground. This step was crucial for translating the design into a Jesmonite frieze tile, ensuring the final piece would capture the intended depth and intricacy.
