Red Deer designs Zylia in Covent Garden with Cypriot stone and lace

Architecture studio Red Deer has completed Zylia, a Greek Cypriot restaurant in London's Covent Garden, using Gerolakkos stone and hand-crafted Lefkara lace from Cyprus. The design contrasts these traditional materials with stainless steel and oversized basket-like lamps. The restaurant occupies a former Victorian blacking factory, and the interior aims to evoke Cyprus without literal reproduction. Founding director Lionel Real de Azúa collaborated with co-founder Barry Karacostas, sourcing stone slabs quarried in Cyprus and shipped directly. The color palette draws on muted greens from aging timber shutters in Nicosia, complemented by ochre stone. Lighting designers Atelier Lighting contributed to the woven pendant shades. The project emphasizes dialogue between Cypriot references and London's industrial context.