Bar Archives

Small restaurant with dark blue-green counters and burl wood walls

New York design studio Polonsky & Friends has lined this tiny New York omakase restaurant with burl wood veneer panels, while its counters and cabinetry are coloured to resemble bird feathers.

Designed as a sister location of Rosella, an East Village sushi spot that opened in 2020, Bar Miller is located a few blocks away in Alphabet City.

The owners brought back Polonsky & Friends to complete the interiors so that the two outposts could share the same “warm, welcoming energy”.

Although the menu borrows from traditional sushi craft, it’s not authentically Japanese, so the designers wanted to steer clear of any tropes that might deceive customers.

Burl wood veneer panels framed in white oak on the walls — Burl wood veneer panels on the walls are framed in white oak, matching the building’s original floors

“The design had to incorporate local and craft-centric elements and honour the food’s Japanese inspiration, but not fall into any folklore since the team isn’t Japanese and the menu is untraditional,” studio founder Anna Polonsky told Dezeen.

The restaurant only seats eight covers, which surround the open kitchen in the centre of the compact space.

Trio of panels with hand-painted wallpaper displaying bird feathers — Custom wallpaper hand-painted by Hollie M Kelley displays the feathers of an eastern rosella bird

Deep blue-green Avocatus stone – a rare quartzite with a leathered finish – forms the entire bar counter

A custom ceiling pendant by Madrid-based designer Pablo Bolumar is suspended above the counter like a string of pearly beads.

Blue-green counter with ceramic vase and flowers, in front of a wood-panelled wall — Pieces by several local designers are featured in the restaurant, including ceramic vases by Fefostudio

On the walls, panels of burl wood veneer are framed in white oak, which matches the refinished original parquet floors.

“We were able to sand back [the flooring] after it was hidden for years in the previous restaurant,” Polonsky said.

Glossy maroon kitchen cabinets — To contrast the blue-green dining area, kitchen cabinetry is coloured maroon as another nod to the rosella bird’s feathers

A trio of panels feature a custom wallpaper drawn by artist Hollie M Kelley, displaying the feathers of an eastern rosella bird.

Kelley also drew the icon for the sister restaurant, a western rosella, which has different colours in its plumage.

The maroon hues in the wallpaper are echoed on the cabinetry behind the kitchen counter, differentiating the food preparation area from the blue-green of the dining space.

Other details include a panel of vertical wood slats for storing plates above the sink and moulded-glass scones shaped like scallop shells.

Vertical wood slats provide spaces for storing dishes

The bar stools were crafted by Maderas Collective in Nicaragua and upholstered by Ecua in Queens, while ceramic vases were sourced from New York-based Fefostudio.

In the bathroom, green tiles laid in a herringbone pattern cover the walls and a rice paper pendant light hand-painted by Claire Dufournier hangs from the ceiling.

Bathroom featuring dark green tiles and a hand-painted rice paper pendant light — The bathroom features dark green tiles and a hand-painted rice paper pendant light

For those looking for more Japanese restaurants with notable interiors, New York City has plenty of options to choose from.

Check out the Rockwell Group-designed Katsuya close to Hudson Yards, Rule of Thirds by Love is Enough in Greenpoint, and Tsukimi in the East Village designed by Post Company – formerly known as Studio Tack.

The photography is by Nicole Franzen.

Reference

Interior of Ikoyi restaurant by David Thulstrup

Interior Design

Dezeen’s top 10 restaurant and bar interiors of 2023

By Zarkon Group,16/12/2023

For the latest roundup in Dezeen’s 2023 review we’ve selected 10 of this year’s most popular and evocative restaurant and bar interiors, ranging from a space-themed sushi bar in Milan to a beach-style eatery in London.

Also among this year’s eclectic roundup of restaurant and bar interiors is a renovated 16th-century brewery in Poland lined with a bold interior of red brick and ceramic tiles, as well as a bar and restaurant informed by Japanese psychedelia and cabins in Canada.

Read on for Dezeen’s top 10 restaurant and bar interiors of 2023:

Ikoyi restaurant, UK, by David Thulstrup

Copenhagen-based designer David Thulstrup designed a copper and oak interior for the Ikoyi restaurant, situated within London’s 180 The Strand building.

Drawing on spice-making processes from sub-Saharan west Africa, the interior features ceilings clad with metal-mesh panels and walls lined with oxidised copper sheets.

Find out more about Ikoyi restaurant ›

Sando burger restaurant in Geneva by Sapid Studio — Photo by Alicia Dubuis

Sando, Switzerland, by Sapid Studio

Sapid Studio used Japanese patchwork techniques to inform the renovation of a burger restaurant in Geneva.

Named after the Japanese word for sandwich, Sando features a largely retained interior decorated with a corrugated stainless steel bar, patched up tiled flooring, and translucent tapestries.

Find out more about Sando ›

The Taproom bar at Tenczynek Brewery by Projekt Praga — Photo by ONI Studio

Tenczynek Brewery, Poland, by Projekt Praga

Red brick, ceramic tiles and oak furniture define the Tenczynek Brewery interior, designed by Polish design studio Projekt Praga.

Located outside of Krakow, the centuries-old brewery was converted into a bold-coloured restaurant and bar, with a self-service beer fountain occupying the centre of the historic brick-vaulted space.

Find out more about Tenczynek Brewery ›

Photo of Prada Caffè at Harrods — Photo courtesy of Prada

Prada Caffè, UK, by Prada

Located in London’s luxury department store Harrods, fashion house Prada opened a cafe informed by one of Milan’s oldest patisseries.

Contrasting with Harrods’ baroque facade, Prada Caffè’s mint green latticed storefront references the brand’s signature green hue, which extends to the interior walls, ceilings and furniture.

Find out more about Prada Caffè ›

Bar area of Milk Beach Soho restaurant by A-nrd — Photo by Charlie McKay

Milk Beach Soho, UK, by A-nrd

London-based design studio A-nrd brought a “beachfront feel” reminiscent of an Australian beach club to this restaurant interior in Soho, London.

Milk Beach Soho’s minimal interior has a neutral material palette featuring a polished terrazzo floor and art deco-style furniture and lighting.

Find out more about Milk Beach Soho ›

ICHI Station restaurant in Milan by Masquespacio — Photo by Luis Beltran

Ichi Station, Italy, by Masquespacio

Ichi Station, by Valencian design studio Masquespacio, is a dine-in restaurant in Milan that draws on sci-fi and space tourism.

Designed to resemble a futuristic spaceship, the cylindrical restaurant interior has a material palette of glass and micro-cement along with rounded, custom-made furniture.

Find out more about Ichi Station ›

Drift Santa Barbara by Anacapa Architecture — Photo by Erin Feinblatt

Drift Santa Barbara, US, by Anacapa Architecture

US studio Anacapa Architecture transformed a formerly closed early-1900s building into a hotel – hosting a ground-floor bar and cafe for both hotel guests and local visitors.

Located in central California, the rustic interior accentuates the building’s historical character and is complemented by concrete and wooden furniture.

Find out more about Drift ›

Wooden seating area below hand-painted mural by Álvaro Siza — Photo by Luís Moreira / Matilde Cunha

Cozinha das Flores, Portugal, by Space Copenhagen

Located in a 16th-century building in Porto, Cozinha das Flores’ interior is decorated by a ceramic mural created by Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza.

Designed by Space Copenhagen, the rustic interior is lined with green and burnt orange tiles, along with oak furniture and brass accents.

Find out more about Cozinha das Flores ›

Corner cafe and bar at Tate Modern by Holland Harvey — Photo by Jack Hobhouse

Corner, UK, by Holland Harvey

London-based architecture studio Holland Harvey revamped Tate Modern’s ground-floor cafe to be less “Herzog & de Meuron-y”.

Doubling as the gallery’s first late-night spot, the interior is organised around a grey stone bar, while salvaged chairs and bespoke tables are used throughout the space.

Find out more about Corner ›

Cabin-like Japanese restaurant in Banff — Photo by Chris Amat

Hello Sunshine, Canada, by Frank Architecture

Situated within the mountains of Alberta, Hello Sunshine is a bar and restaurant informed by Japanese psychedelia and cabins in collaboration with Little Giant.

Designed by Canadian studio Frank Architecture, the wooden interior features two raised fire pits accompanied by large flues clad with glazed ceramic tiles, along with paper lanterns and textile artworks.

Find out more about Hello Sunshine ›

2023 review

This article is part of Dezeen’s roundup of the biggest and best news and projects in architecture, design, interior design and technology from 2023.

Reference

Interior Design

Cake Architecture draws on Bauhaus principles for Hoxton bar

By Zarkon Group,08/12/2023

Cake Architecture has renovated A Bar with Shapes for a Name, an east London cocktail bar featuring “utilitarian” interiors.

A Bar with Shapes for a Name owes its title to the yellow triangle, red square and blue circle that are emblazoned on its facade in a nod to the primary colours and understated geometry commonly associated with the Bauhaus.

When creating the bar’s minimalist interiors, Dalston-based Cake Architecture took cues from the influential German art and design school that was established in 1919 and advocated for an emphasis on functionality, among other similar principles.

Located at 232 Kingsland Road in Hoxton, the cocktail bar was renovated by the studio to serve as a multipurpose venue.

Reddish plywood bar — Cake Architecture created a smooth ground-floor bar from reddish plywood

Cake Architecture doubled the bar’s capacity by adding a basement, which acts as a “kitchen-bar” room, and refurbished the ground floor’s existing seating area as well as a classroom-style space that offers a location for rotating events or workshops.

“These spaces have specific functional requirements and we selected colours and materials to suit,” studio director Hugh Scott Moncrieff told Dezeen.

Rectilinear light installation within bar by Cake Architecture — It was positioned opposite a rectilinear light installation

Upon entering the bar, visitors are greeted by the main seating area or “showroom”, which was designed to be warm and inviting.

Tall tubular chairs finished with neutral rattan were positioned around chunky geometric tables made from birch ply stained to a rich, reddish-brown hue.

Glass-topped central table in the basement — The renovation included the addition of a new basement

The team also used the same timber to create the space’s curving bar, which is illuminated by a squat, cordless table lamp by lighting brand Flos.

Opposite the bar, a glowing rectilinear light installation by photographer Steve Braiden was fitted to the wall underneath bench-style seating reminiscent of early Bauhaus furniture designs.

Close-up of the steel, glass-topped table — A steel, glass-topped table sets an industrial tone

“We looked in particular at projects by the Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius,” reflected Scott Moncrieff.

“Gropius is a master of this elegant zoning through the application of colour and form,” he added.

Steel-framed tables in the classroom — The “classroom” includes steel-framed tables

Downstairs, the low-lit basement was created to house additional seating as well as “all of the crazy machinery they use to prepare the drinks,” the designer said.

The basement is characterised by a bespoke central table by Cake Architecture and furniture designer Eddie Olin.

Sculptural, colourful lamp — Red, yellow and blue accents define a sculptural lamp

Consisting of a steel frame that “floats” over a central leg, the table was topped with a glass surface and its base was clad in phenolic-coated plywood to match the floor and walls.

“This new basement is predominantly a production space – so the palette reflects this with hardwearing, utilitarian and industrial materials,” said Scott Moncrieff.

A thick, felt curtain in ultramarine adds a pop of colour to the otherwise pared-back space.

With its pale blue walls and Valchromat-topped, steel-framed tables, the ground-floor “classroom” pays homage to the Bauhaus as an educational institution.

Tall blackboard in the classroom — A tall blackboard provides space to learn in the classroom

Brighter blue vinyl covers the floors while a sculptural lamp featuring red, yellow and blue circles echoes the bar’s logo.

A tall blackboard and overhead strip lighting add to the classroom feel of the space, which is used for various group events.

Illuminated bathroom sink — Thin vertical lights frame the bathroom sink

Cake Architecture worked closely with the bar’s founders Remy Savage and Paul Lougrat when creating the interiors, which were primarily informed by the duo’s way of working.

“The team has a conceptually driven ethos drawn from the theory and practice of Bauhaus embedded in everything they are doing. We found that incredibly exciting,” explained Scott Moncrieff.

Sconce lighting on the wall — A Bar with Shapes for a Name is located on London’s Kingsland Road

“The Bauhaus phrase ‘party, work, play’ was pertinent to some early ideas and this carried through all our design discussions,” noted the designer.

“The space enables these three things. Separately as individual functions and simultaneously as a representation of the overall atmosphere of a bar!”

Cake Architecture previously worked with interior designer Max Radford to create a curtain-wrapped speakeasy in London’s Soho. The studio also designed a workspace for London agency Ask Us For Ideas in the same part of the city.

The photography is by Felix Speller.

Reference

Interior Design

RooMoo resuses old whiskey barrels inside Shanghai’s Laizhou Bar

By Zarkon Group,22/11/2023

Chinese interiors studio RooMoo has used nearly 6,000 pieces of oak from discarded distillery barrels to adorn this whiskey bar in Shanghai.

Laizhou Bar is located in the city’s buzzy Xuhui District and is an offshoot of Laizhou Distillery, a Chinese whiskey producer based out of Sichuan province.

The distillery prides itself on reducing its environmental impact by using low-temperature saccharification machinery and collecting wastewater so it can be converted into biogas energy.

So Shanghai-based studio RooMoo placed a similar emphasis on sustainability when designing the bar, where almost 6,000 pieces of wood from the distillery’s discarded oak barrels were reused as decoration.

Interior of Lai Zhou Bar by RooMoo features offcuts from wooden whiskey barrels — The offcuts were then used to construct a ringed structure on the bar’s ceiling

“The bar imports the materials used in the distillery’s production process, creating a symbiosis between the two spaces,” said the studio.

“Each dismantled barrel piece was different in terms of width, length and grain, so we classified them and applied them to different positions.”

Barrel pieces are first seen on the bar’s facade, where they have been placed horizontally to create a lattice-like effect.

The facade is otherwise only punctuated by a wide-set door and an expansive window, where barrels printed with the distillery’s logo are displayed.

Once inside, guests step into a whiskey sampling area with a green marble tasting counter. Suspended directly above the space is a dramatic double-ringed sculpture crafted from barrel offcuts.

More wooden barrel pieces were used to construct a curving, slatted partition in front of the main bar.

A long seating banquette bends around the back of the room, accompanied by a series of black tables and leather chairs. There is also a huge light-up wall where liquor bottles are put on display.

On the ceiling here are the beginnings of another ringed sculpture, which will be completed as soon as the distillery has used up more barrels for the studio to use.

“We made the ceiling structure beautiful enough to open the bar first,” explained the studio. “We are not hurrying to finish it, but following the production process and waiting for the wasted materials to be produced.”

Off to the side of the main bar is a more private VIP tasting room. At its centre hangs a bespoke light crafted from the circular metal bands, which once held together the distillery barrels.

Lai Zhou Bar has made it to the shortlist in the sustainable interior category of the 2023 Dezeen Awards.

The project is up against Edit restaurant by Elly Ward and Joe Morris, which is clad with salvaged terracotta tiles, and the Big Beauty store by Nina + Co, which is decked out in biomaterials like mycelium.

Reference

Interior Design

Yinka Ilori imbues Courvoisier bar with natural beauty of Cognac region

By Zarkon Group,29/08/2023

A wavy canopy emerges like a fountain from this pop-up cognac bar inside Selfridges in London, designed by local designer Yinka Ilori to mimic the glistening waters of the Charente river in France’s Cognac region.

The bar belongs to cognac brand Courvoisier and was designed to capture its hometown of Jarnac and the surrounding region, where cognac brandy is made using white grapes from one of six designated “crus” or areas.

Ilori wanted to bring this bucolic setting to London’s Selfridges department store, using it to inform the colours and patterns featured throughout the space.

“I aimed to capture the essence of Jarnac – the warmth of the sun, the rippling of water, the beautiful wildflowers and the natural beauty in the surroundings,” he told Dezeen.

“The design pays homage to the magic and nature of Jarnac, creating a space that embodies its spirit.”

Seating area in Selfridges cognac bar pop-up — The interior was designed by Yinka Ilori

The town’s location on the Charente river is the most prominent influence, seen across the pale-blue floors, the sinuous rippling pattern on the walls and, most importantly, in the bar itself.

Here, a circular counter was topped with a wavy blue canopy that seems to pour out of a central pillar, with the same pattern continuing down onto the base.

Courvoisier VSOP bottle designed by Yinka Ilori — Ilori also designed a limited-edition VSOP bottle for the brand

“I wanted people to feel like they were surrounded by water, with it flowing both above and below them, creating a sense of immersion and tranquillity,” Ilori said.

“The design of the canopy aims to reference the effortless flow of water, making visitors feel as though they are in the midst of a serene river.”

The bar’s scalloped countertop picks up on the sinuous shape of the waves but provides a colourful contrast thanks to its lacquered red finish.

Another reoccurring feature throughout the space is a cartoonish flower shape that nods to Jarnac’s wildflower fields and is found across drinks stands and upholstered benches in the seating area.

To create a visual connection between the blue waves and the buttercup-coloured flowers, Ilori incorporated a sunset gradient that fades from yellow to soft lilac and envelops several cylindrical display stands as well as the base of the bar.

“I was struck by the gradients in the sky in Jarnac and wanted to capture this unique visual,” Ilori said.

Seating area of pop-up bar at Selfridges designed by Yinka Ilori — A wavy pattern features across the walls

These three repeated motifs, spanning earth, sky and water, also feature in the limited-edition bottle design that Ilori created for Courvoisier’s Very Superior Old Pale (VSOP) cognac.

The bottles are available in four different ombre colours and displayed throughout the bar, which will stay open for three weeks until 11 September.

Overhead shot of circular bar inside Courvoisier pop-up bar at Selfridges designed by Yinka Ilori — The same pattern is picked up in the canopy of the bar

The project forms part of Ilori’s ongoing collaboration with Courvoisier as the brand’s “ambassador of joy”.

Last year, the designer created an immersive dining for Courvoisier in New York, designed to transport diners into a surrealist interpretation of Jarnac.

Ilori’s colourful work is often considered as part of the New London Fabulous movement and includes a colourful skate park in Lille and The Colour Palace pavilion at the London Festival of Architecture.

Reference

Interior Design

Ramy Fischler creates Moët Hennessy’s first cocktail bar

By Zarkon Group,24/08/2023

Belgian designer Ramy Fischler has collaborated with Moët Hennessy and cocktail creator Franck Audoux to create the Cravan cocktail bar in the heart of Paris’ Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Named Cravan, the bar for luxury drinks group Moët Hennessy was a collaboration between architect Fischler and restaurateur, author, historian and cocktail aficionado Audoux.

“The objective of the design was to amplify a story by Franck Audoux originating from his small bar in the 16th arrondissement of Paris and transforming it into a cocktail house over five levels in the centre of the capital – to imagine the creation of a new house of the Moët Hennessy group,” Fischler told Dezeen.

“This is not a one-shot but the beginning of a long adventure. It was therefore necessary to define a harmony, a coherence, between all the ingredients of the project, whether it is the decoration, the service, the music or the lighting.”

Cravan cocktail bar for Moët Hennessy — The building features three separate bars

The space takes its name from the avant-garde poet-boxer and sometime art critic, Arthur Cravan, a free-spirited figure greatly admired by Audoux, with whom Fischler worked closely on this project.

“We share a common vision, based essentially on cultural references from literature and cinema, and above all a taste for scenic impact, framing a context, point of view, or narrative,” said Fischler.

“We started with the desire to freely assemble codes, eras, and styles to craft a new repertoire which made sense to us and expressed the essence of Cravan.”

Set in a 17th-century building in the heart of this historic and literary district, the space was arranged over five floors, with a small invitation-only space on the roof.

The building has separate bars, each with its own distinct character on the ground, first and third floors, while the second floor hosts the Rizzoli bookstore-cum-library, where guests can come with their drinks to leaf through and buy books. On the fourth floor, there’s another invitation-only atelier-style space.

Cocktail bar in Paris — Each of the spaces was designed to combine modern elements with the building’s historic fabric

According to Fischler, the whole project took its cues from the concept of the cocktail.

“I would never have imagined this project in its current state if it were not a question of drinking cocktails” he said.

“There are a number of ingredients that we blend together to create a unique whole, that seems offbeat but is actually very controlled,” he continued.

“I thought of the spaces as cinematic scenes, hence the individual atmospheres on each floor which form different sets. You can sit in front of the stage, on the stage, or behind the stage, depending on the experience and viewing angle you prefer.”

Moët Hennessy bar in Paris — The bar is Moët Hennessy’s first

To create these different scenes, the project makes use of a wide range of materials, often reclaimed salvaged pieces including parquet floors, stone floors and wood wall coverings, painstakingly installed by a large team of craftspeople.

In Ramy Fischler’s projects, the textiles always play an important role and the practice features its own in-house textile designer.

“For Cravan, we tried to use as much re-used material as possible, and in particular textiles from Nona Source, a start-up that makes available leftover, unused fabrics from the fashion houses of the LVMH group.”

Cravan cocktail bar — Historic elements were retained throughout the space

The practice strived to create a contrast between the warm and natural colours of the historic fittings, and the colder and metallic colours of the contemporary furniture and fittings, “which cohabit one alongside the other”.

“Depending on the level, the colour palette is totally different, and since no room is alike, and each colour has been chosen according to the universe we have sought to compose,” said Fischler.

Glasses designed by Fischler — Fischler also designed glasses for the bar

All of Cravan’s furniture was custom designed and Fischler’s holistic approach extends to the cocktail glasses, which the practice designed for Cravan and which are displayed in the library.

“Rather than creating new shapes, we preferred to select, from the history of glassware over the past 300 years, the models that we liked and that we wanted customers to rediscover,” explained Fischler.

Other recent bars featured on Dezeen include an eclectic cocktail in Los Angeles designed by Kelly Wearstler to feel “like it has been there for ages” and the Ca’ Select bar and distillery in Venice.

The photography is by Vincent Leroux and Alice Fenwick

Reference

Marcante-Testa Architects has turned an industrial building in Venice into the canal-side Ca' Select bar, visitor centre and production facility.

Interior Design

Marcante-Testa unveils Ca’ Select bar and distillery in Venice

By Zarkon Group,28/07/2023

Italian studio Marcante-Testa has turned an industrial building in Venice into the canal-side Ca’ Select bar, visitor centre and production facility.

Set alongside a small canal in the Cannareggio district of Venice, the bar and distillery belong to the company behind Select Aperitivo – the main ingredient of a Venetian Spritz.

“The history of Select is closely tied to that of Venice, where the brand was founded in 1920,” said Marcante-Testa.

“Starting from this awareness, the mother company Gruppo Montenegro commissioned the architects Andrea Marcante and Adelaide Testa to formulate a reinterpretation of the unique characteristics of Venetian identity, reviving one aspect of the city’s past.”

Select Aperitivo bar in Venice — The space includes a Select Aperitivo bar

Marcante-Testa led the conversion of the former metal workshop into a bar and events space, spanning 690 square metres. Throughout the bar and production spaces, glass and ceramic details were chosen to highlight traditional Venetian crafts.

The elongated space was split linearly into three zones, with the bar placed at the front of the building so it can be accessed from the canal by a corridor clad in white and red Zellige tiles made by Mosaic Factory.

Bar in Venice by Marcante-Testa — The bar is wrapped in blue wavy glass

At the centre of the space is a freestanding bar wrapped in blue wavy glass “in the Murano tradition”, created by the Wonderglass company to recall the waves of the nearby lagoon.

The space features three handmade mosaics made from tiles fired in the historic Fornace Orsoni and informed by the sketches of Spanish designer Mariano Fortuny, who was a long-term resident of Venice.

Venetian seminato terrazzo flooring with red glass and blue sodalite marble inlays was used to unify the spaces, running from the entrance through the bar to the production area.

Separated from the bar by a large curtain is a seating area furnished with steel-framed sofas alongside armchairs upholstered in reds and pinks as a nod to the aperitivo’s colour. This area will also be used as an events space.

Events space at Ca' Select bar in Venice — An events space is located next to the bar

The event space has views through a red-tinted glass wall to the production facility at the rear of the building.

Here, the maceration of the herbs and spices used to make the distinctive aperitivo takes place.

Distillery in Venice — The distillery is separated from the public areas by a glass wall

The final space in Select Aperitivo’s building is nestled above the entrance corridor. Accessed by steps to the side of the entrance is a small visitor centre with exhibits curated by Turin-based Studio Fludd.

It contains seating and exhibits that aim to tell the story of the aperitivo brand, which was established in 1920.

Visitor centre for Select Aperitivo — An exhibition space is located above the entrance

Select Aperitivo hopes that the bar and visitor centre will continue to reinforce the brand’s historic links to the city.

“Ca’ Select represents a fundamental step in our multi-year plan to consolidate the brand and aims to strengthen the link with the city of origin,” said Marco Ferrari, CEO of Gruppo Montenegro, which owns the brand.

“It is no coincidence that we have decided to bring the heart of Select’s production here, to enhance the local culture starting with the valuable architectural elements that enrich the space.”

Production facility for Select Aperitivo — The building also houses a Select Aperitivo production facility

Other recently completed bars that have been featured on Dezeen include a brewery in a former Copenhagen slaughterhouse and a bar in Calgary topped with plywood barrel vaults.

Project credits:

Architectural project: Marcante-Testa
Interior design project: Marcante-Testa
Project and content management: Mindthegap Studio
Plants and facilities design: Pgs Ingegneria – Studio Associato
Content of the exhibition design: Studio Fludd
Production coordination and executive production: Epica film
Visual identity project: Studio Fludd
Building works director: Valter Camagna, Andrea marcante
Local architect: Stefano Romagna
Project manager: Roberta Minici
Safety manager and coordinator: Sebastiano Cibien
Building construction: Steelwood Engineering
Plant engineering work: Gruppo Frassati, Vem Sistemi
Set-up arrangements: Steelwood Rngineering, Gruppo Frassati, Amap, Wonderglass
Light design: Marcante-Testa with Flos
Decorative lighting supplier: Fortuny
Technical lighting supplier: Flos
System integrator: Acuson, Red Group

Reference

Architecture

glossy red tiles dynamically contrast with lime green counter within spazio maiocchi’s new bar

By Zarkon Group,01/05/2023

Spazio Maiocchi’s bar extension in milan

Spazio Maiocchi, a contemporary art space and cultural hub in the heart of Milan, has recently unveiled its new extension, a vibrant and modern bar. Its striking design, conceptualized by Capsule magazine and architect Paul Cournet, features a bold use of color and clear forms, creating a dynamic contrast between the intense shades of red and green. The eye-catching aesthetic is the result of collaborations with renowned designers, including Konstantin Grcic, and Ettore Sottsass among others. This new extension adds to the already rich cultural scene offered by Spazio Maiocchi, providing a stylish and welcoming environment where visitors can enjoy the Milanese energy.

all images by Capsule

One year after the launch of Capsule magazine (see more here), Capsule Plaza was created as a hybrid between a fair and a collective exhibition. This initiative brought together designers and companies from various creative fields, injecting fresh energy into Milan Design Week. The inaugural edition of Capsule Plaza coincided with milan design week 2023, celebrating the city’s lively design scene. On this occasion, Capsule Plaza unveiled the new extension of Spazio Maiocchi — a striking former garage across the street, renovated by architect Paolo Caracini and Laboratorio Permanente, reaching a footprint of over 1600 sqm and reasserting its presence as a new cultural hub.

wooden wall tiles by Ettore Sottsass incorporate natural warmth and texture into the space

a Symphony of Materials

The new bar is a natural extension of Spazio Maiocchi’s mission to bring together artists, creatives, and the community to foster cultural exchange. The space boasts a stunning design, featuring a striking combination of materials, such as Mutina DIN tiles in glossy red and matte black, created by Konstantin Grcic, and wooden wall tiles by the renowned designer Ettore Sottsass. The resulting aesthetic is bold and contemporary, while also incorporating natural warmth and texture into the space.

Adding to the design’s glossy are the horizontal suspended lamps by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec and a USM bar counter in lime green. This diverse material choice imparts a sophisticated and timeless aesthetic to the overall composition, with the patterns and forms lending an illusion of space extension. Other details from aluminum shelves and wall sconces to a pedestal sink in rust-colored reinforced concrete contribute their own unique flair to the imposing design.

the lime green USM bar counter creates a dynamic contrast against the red background.

horizontal suspended lamps by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec generate intricate reflections on the glossy walls

a unique combination of materials, textures, and colors

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project info:

name: Spazio Maiocchi‘s new Bar | @spaziomaiocchi

designed by: Capsule and architect Paul Cournet

location: Milan

christina petridou I designboom

may 01, 2023

Reference

Interior of Gota bar in Madrid designed by Plantea Estudio

Interior Design

Plantea Estudio creates cosy cave-like room within bar Gota in Madrid

By Zarkon Group,18/04/2023

A red “cave” hides behind the main dining space of this wine and small plates bar in Madrid designed by interiors studio Plantea Estudio.

Located on the ground floor of a neoclassical building in Madrid’s buzzy Justicia neighbourhood, Plantea Estudio designed Gota to appear “dark, stony and secluded”.

Guests ring a bell to enter the 70-square-metre bar, and are then welcomed into a dining room enclosed by thickset granite ashlar walls. While some of the walls were left exposed, others have been smoothly plastered over and washed with grey lime paint.

The floor was overlaid with black volcanic stone tiles that the studio thought were suggestive of a “newly discovered terrain”.

A bench seat runs down the left-hand side of the bar, accompanied by lustrous aluminium tables and square birchwood stools from Danish design brand Frama.

Guests can alternatively perch on high stools at the peripheries of the room, where lies a slender stone ledge for drinks to be set down on.

More seating was created around a bespoke chestnut counter at the room’s centre; its surfacetop has an in-built turntable on which the Gota team plays a curated selection of music.

Behind the counter is a storage wall where wine bottles, vintage vinyl records and other music-related paraphernalia are displayed.

Gota bar in Madrid includes red cave-like room — A cave-like dining room hides at the bar’s rear

An open doorway takes guests down a short corridor to a secondary cave-like dining space, which boasts a dramatic vaulted ceiling and craggy brick walls. It has been almost entirely painted red.

“It’s relatively common to find this kind of vaulted brick space in the basements of old buildings in Madrid – this case was special because it’s on the ground floor with small openings to a garden,” the studio told Dezeen.

“It was perfect for a more quiet and private area of the bar,” it continued.

“The red colour is an abstract reference to the brick of which the cave is really made, and also a reference to wine.”

At the room’s heart is a huge 10-centimetre-thick granite table that’s meant to look as if it has “been there forever”, surrounded by aluminium chairs also from Frama. Smaller birch tables and chairs custom-designed by the studio have been tucked into the rooms corners.

To enhance the cosy, intimate feel of the bar, lighting has been kept to a minimum – there are a handful of candles, reclaimed sconces and an alabaster lamp by Spanish brand Santa & Cole.

Established in 2008, Plantea Estudio is responsible for a number of hospitality projects in Madrid.

Others include Hermosilla, a Mediterranean restaurant decked out in earthy tones, and Sala Equis, a multi-purpose entertainment space that occupies a former erotic cinema.

The photography is by Salva López.

Reference

Interior Design

Lovers Unite wraps Bar Chelou in Pasadena with expressive drapery

By Zarkon Group,26/03/2023

Late artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude influenced the dramatic drapery around this restaurant in Pasadena, California, designed by Los Angeles studio Lovers Unite.

Conceived by chef-owner Douglas Rankin as a take on a Parisian bistro, Bar Chelou opened earlier this year in a building in a Spanish Colonial Revival plaza next to the Pasadena Playhouse.

Lovers Unite had just a few weeks to transform the space into an operational dining room, so looked to ways it could make maximum impact with minimal time.

The studio found inspiration in the legacy of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who famously wrapped some of the world’s most recognisable monuments in giant swaths of fabric – most recently the Arc du Triomphe in Paris, which was realised a year after Christo’s death.

The duo’s seemingly effortless but meticulously planned drapery is echoed on a much smaller scale around the Bar Chelou space, which was formerly a Baroque-themed restaurant called Saso.

Dining room with copper tables and green floor — The restaurant in Pasadena features copper-topped tables that reflect light from an amber glass chandelier

“We felt the spirit of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s work was a good conceptual fit for a project, which is supposed to evolve over time, but we’re able to be referential while being playful with our approach,” Lovers Unite told Dezeen.

“Translating the gesture of the wrap to a human scale and a hospitality context changes the meaning and impact of the gesture — it’s not necessarily an artwork but it’s evocative and surprising.”

Patrons enter via an arched doorway, and are immediately met with the sight of natural muslin fabric hung around the walls and above the bar.

Curtains surrounding dining room — Curtains surround the dining room and offer glimpses of the kitchen in places

“Upon entering, one might feel as if they are visiting an expansive and uncluttered artist’s studio in a transitory state; hints abound that change is coming,” said the Bar Chelou team.

Lifts and pleats in the curtains created by thick ropes reveal the chefs at work in the kitchen, as well as framing views of the arched windows seen in mirrored panels.

A dark shade of green was chosen to contrast the natural muslin and is used across the dining room floor and built-in leather banquettes.

Similarly coloured tiles clad the front of the walnut-topped bar counter at the front, which is slightly lower that the main dining area and offers additional seating.

Bar clad in glossy green tiles — A dark shade of green chosen to contrast the fabric covers the front of the bar counter

Thonet-style bistro chairs accompany polished copper cafe tables, which reflect the light from a custom, amber glass chandelier that spans the length of the room.

Walls were painted to match the hue of the curtain fabric, and the window frames are bright green.

Bar area illuminated by green-framed arched windows — Light pours into the bar area through arched windows with frames painted bright green

Pasadena located is northeast of Los Angeles, where many new restaurants with notable interiors have opened over the past few months.

Among them are the retro-futurist 19 Town designed by Jialun Xiong, and Great White Melrose, which offers outdoor dining on a pink-plaster patio.

The photography is by Chris Mottalini.

Reference

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a Symphony of Materials

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