August 13, 2020

Text: Carlene Olsen

La Cage Noire Nightclub by Minas Kosmidis Architects Invites a Walk on the Wild Side

Club-goers are met with geometric forms and shades of gray at the reception desk. Photography by Stefanos Tsakiris and edited by Christos Kaligos. 

La Cage Noire, a newly opened nightclub in Komotini, Greece, draws design inspiration from its namesake the black cage. The 600-square-meter space designed by Minas Kosmidis Architects features monochromatic surfaces and geometric patterns throughout, simulating the look and feel of an enclosed cage—encouraging club-goers to break free, so to speak. To expand on this narrative, the design team created a grid within the building’s rectangular floor plan, employing simple engravings and linear structural elements set against a black and gray palette. The neutral canvas adds a touch of drama to the space, bringing to focus the lighting and surrounding wildlife portraits.

“The lighting is vital for the project as it is called at the same time to create a mysterious atmosphere, but also to coexist with the starry sky,” said Minas Kosmidis, founder and creative director of Minas Kosmidis Architects. “Specific points of the design, such as the custom tiles and the portraits of wildlife, are highlighted in order to bring them to life.” Striking features in the space also include the center bar, which features a custom disco ball built into the silhouette of a lion’s head, and the open ceiling above offering expansive views of the night sky. Upon walking in, club-goers are met with rare pops of color by way of a custom water installation surrounded by greenery, meant to evoke an animal’s natural habitat, before entering the black cage for an evening of dancing in the dark. 

“The most exciting and difficult part of working on this design was to bring to the surface a mythological feeling that serves strong symbolism despite the simplicity of the rectangular floor,” said Kosmidis. Photography by Stefanos Tsakiris and edited by Christos Kaligos. 

A glimpse inside La Cage Noire. Photography by Stefanos Tsakiris and edited by Christos Kaligos. 
Subtle patterns and textures add a touch of whimsy to the linear aesthetic throughout the space. Photography by Stefanos Tsakiris and edited by Christos Kaligos. 
The open ceiling exposes the night sky. Photography by Stefanos Tsakiris and edited by Christos Kaligos. 

The team created a custom disco ball for the center bar area that evokes the look of a lion’s nose and mouth. Photography by Stefanos Tsakiris and edited by Christos Kaligos. 

The water installation just outside of the “caged-in” reception area is custom, in order to reinforce the surrounding natural elements. Photography by Stefanos Tsakiris and edited by Christos Kaligos. 

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