The Wine Bar

As well as a love for good wine, the owner also has a love for fabric and textiles and wanted to include linen and French-styled cafe curtains in the front window. This desired use of linen instantly inspired me to think of how I could use fabric in a contemporary way across the design elements but first I needed to address the limited space.

The footprint of the space is small, allowing for thirty-five occupants in the indoor space, a further thirty outside, and with the requirement to be adapted for small events, good space planning was imperative to maximise the floor space and design. And figuring out where best to place accessible toilets (and hide them from sight) was both a challenge and a great place to start. Once I had this in place the rest of the design would follow.

I proposed that the bar front would be constructed with a square mesh outer, one cork width deep, adding a fun use for old corks by creating colour, texture, scent. Directly under the bar top is an LED strip light to illuminate the evolving artwork. The bar also all-important acoustic property (due to high stud it was critical to think about sound absorption). The incorporation of smoke cork flooring on the ground of the bar area will give staff a softer surface to stand on for long shifts and the same material flows into the stage areas for continuity.

Complementary use of natural cork floors behind the adaptable shelving/storage provides warmth, demarcation and further acoustic properties. To finish off this space, the cork is handy board for hanging clipboards and displaying different specials and up-coming events.