Project Name
Red Jane
Posted in
Interior Design
Opening Hours
Mon–Sat 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
Location
Kidonias 101
Chania
Greece
Completed
July 2023
Official Website
redjaneproject.com
Detailed Information
Project NameRed JanePosted inInterior DesignOpening HoursMon–Sat 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
Location
Kidonias 101
Chania
Greece
CompletedJuly 2023Official Websiteredjaneproject.com

It’s often the case that the most captivating design projects arise from creative collaborations, especially those that transcend the usual boundaries of the collaborators' fields. This holds true for Red Jane, a bakery in Crete that opened its doors last summer under the helm of hotelier Nikos Tsepetis. A self-confessed design enthusiast, Tsepetis made his name with his much-lauded beachside Ammos Hotel outside Chania.  So, when he got the idea of turning an abandoned interwar foundry in the town centre into an artisanal bakery, he enlisted acclaimed London-based designer Michael Anastassiades to design everything from the interiors to the logo and packaging, and Eyal Schwartz, the former head baker and co-owner of London’s iconic E5 Bakehouse, to create the bakery’s menu. Cheekily named after Jane Fonda’s controversial 'Hanoi Jane' Vietnam photo, the result of this collaboration is a place where contemporary design coexists with the building’s industrial legacy, celebrating both the artistry and the physical labour of baking.

As a lighting and furniture designer, Anastassiades is celebrated for creatively balancing industrial production with artisan techniques, making him well suited to this project, his first fully realised interior design endeavour. Tasked with breathing new life into a 1930s foundry while preserving its inherent character, he introduced a modernist-inspired design language rich in exquisite craftsmanship as counterpoint to the building's industrial past.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Traianos Pakoufiakis.

Photography by Traianos Pakoufiakis.

Photography by Traianos Pakoufiakis.

Photography by Traianos Pakoufiakis.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

The building's exterior, largely preserved in its weathered, graffiti-marked state, is subtly enhanced by wine red-painted steel windows and a sculptural marble bench. Inside, the raw concrete structure, brick ceiling, and masonry walls contrast with expanses of red marble adorning the lower walls and the monolithic counter. Custom-made ceramic floor tiles, designed by Anastassiades in partnership with luxury ceramics brand Mutina, add further refinement. Minimalist bronze light pendants and glass showcases contribute to an atmosphere of design elegance. Floor-to-ceiling internal windows provide views of the bread and pastry production area, placing the art of baking at the forefront. In stark contrast to the front's red colour scheme, the production space is decked in white marble and ceramic tiles, creating a 'yin and yang' dynamic that highlights the intertwined themes of heritage and modernity, as well as industrial and artisanal production, central to Red Jane's ethos.

Photography by Nikos Kouklakis.

Photography by Nikos Kouklakis.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Nikos Kouklakis.

Photography by Nikos Kouklakis.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Crafted from organic flour sourced from a local mill that primarily uses Greek grain, Red Jane’s bread and pastry menu is the result of a three-year collaborative effort between head baker Seraphim Karantziounis, Eyal Schwartz, co-founder of London's iconic E5 Bakehouse, and skilled pastry chef Konstantinos Kasidopoulos of Cannelait Paros. Coffee roaster Giannis Klouvidakis’ balanced blends, made from freshly roasted beans sourced from select small farms in Brazil and Colombia, add to the venue’s artisanal sensibility and commitment to quality.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Heidi Lerkendeldt.

Photography by Traianos Pakoufiakis.

Photography by Traianos Pakoufiakis.

Red Jane Bakery: An Old Foundry in Crete Becomes a Showcase of Minimalist Design in the Hands of Michael Anastassiades

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