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Project Overview

This compact, yet elegant bar blends modern along with traditional elements while welcoming clients into a warm, approachable up-to-date space. Drawing on stylistic themes of the Japanese Showa period and traditional European drinking establishments, this low-key, yet elegant space beckons the work-a-day weary with its extensive curated collection of fine whiskeys and spirits to unwind with friends, colleagues or strangers at the bar or in the comfortable crushed blue velvet and rattan seating throughout this cozy space.

Project Commissioner

THTH Interior Design Co., Ltd.

Project Creator

THTH Interior Design Co., Ltd.

Team

Chief Designer : Jing-Pei, Chen

Project Brief

Offering a quiet, tranquil, warm space combining the tradition of whiskey and calming multi-layered wood with modern metallic lines and hues, this small tavern with both public and a private party spaces immediately relieves the stress after the busy day-to-day amid an extensive line of top-shelf whiskeys and spirits. The goal was a blending of modern with classic eras echoing the Japanese Showa period as well as traditional European styling. Attention to gold trim, inlayed glass and retro mosaic flooring embellishments aimed at echoing years dedicated to whiskey curating, through the use of nostalgic wooden elements, lines and low-key, yet luxurious gold trim accents.

Project Innovation/Need

To achieve a low-key, yet luxurious space, dark blue velvet fabric, dark wood, with modern concrete finishes were used for a layered effect. Although the space is relatively small at 50 square-meters, the pub has seating for 22, plus a dark striated marble bar and a kitchen. The seating area also uses high-back velvet covered bar stools contrasted with low rattan chairs to separate the space. There is also a separate private table area, which can accommodate up to 10 guests.

In order to bring the bartender in closer contact with customers the designer raised the floor behind the bar by 20 cm, allowing the bartender to extend forward interact more easily with guests while spotlighting the bartender. Shelving was designed to not only display over 100 bottles of spirits, but also specialized glassware. The interaction of guests is controlled trough division of tables and seating areas, with a central isle leading to the bathroom in the back.

Design Challenge

To accommodate the dimensions of an under-bar refrigeration unit, the designer had to elevate the entire bar area, creating a stage for the bartender. One constraint, the budget, inspirited the repurposing of the original hanging tile ceiling changing only its color and highlighting the dividers with gold driving the visual focus of the entire space. To compensate in an earthquake-prone environment behind-the-bar shelving was tilted to protect the valuable collection of spirits & glassware.

Sustainability

In creating a space merging old and new, the designer was using over 80% of recycled materials and adding on the metal frame to give it the touch of modernity. The designer selected old-style chandelier lightings and making a big cube light box at the counter which both featured modern technology while echoing the past. Lighting elements casting shadows on bare cement and wood for ambiance, and allowing adjustment to set the mood were integral in the design. The choice of a crisp modern, yet unobtrusive light-box at the end of the bar at the entrance signals the modern aspect of the space, while the rattan echoes past eras.

Interior Design - International Hospitality - Casual

This award celebrates innovative and creative building interiors where people eat and drink - this includes bars, restaurants, cafes and clubs. Judging consideration is given to space creation and planning, furnishings, finishes, aesthetic presentation and functionality. Consideration also given to space allocation, traffic flow, building services, lighting, fixtures, flooring, colours, furnishings and surface finishes.
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