I’m always surprised – and quite curious – when I come across places that hide behind an apparently nonsensical facade, except for the echoes of their past. My curiosity is heightened, however, when I discover that inside there’s a modern and creative, I would even say daring, project. In this case, we’re talking about a bakery located in an old foundry from the 1930s, a building that had been abandoned for many years.
Often, the most compelling design ventures emerge from creative collaborations, especially those that push the conventional boundaries of the participants’ respective fields.
Such is the case with Red Jane, a bakery in Crete that opened its doors last summer under the guidance of hotelier Nikos Tsepetis, the mastermind behind the ammos hotel.
When he came up with the idea of transforming an abandoned interwar foundry in the center of town into an artisan bakery, he enlisted renowned London-based designer Michael Anastassiades to create everything from the interior to the logo and packaging.
In addition, Eyal Schwartz, the former head baker and co-owner of London’s iconic E5 Bakehouse, was brought in to curate the bakery’s menu.
With a playful nod to Jane Fonda’s controversial “Hanoi Jane” Vietnam photo, this collaboration resulted in a space where contemporary design seamlessly integrates with the building’s industrial heritage.
It pays tribute to the artistry and physical labor of baking, introducing a modernist-inspired design language infused with exquisite craftsmanship that serves as a beautiful contrast to the building’s industrial history.
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