The site for this bar and lounge is a corner storefront on the main street of downtown Akron, a place that is undergoing a slow and much-needed revitalization. Transparent along the street, the space was designed as a beacon to attract the attention of passers-by, enticing people in even when the weather is very cold.
The interior space is divided into a set of rooms that are all open to one another, while still maintaining their own identity:
- the bar area, over 40 feet long, is backlit with large etched glass and neon lighting
- the room in front of the bar has couches and lounge seating
- the small alcove in the back of the bar is a perfect place to see but not to be seen
- the two big turquoise pods with their one sized wood light fixtures provide another
seating environment
- finally, up a few steps in the back, there is VIP seating with padded fabric walls
The space had to be both sophisticated and inviting per the client’s program. A rich juxtaposition of materials makes the space both cozy and sexy. The palette of materials is sensuous with woods, stone, glass and colorful fabrics and furnishings. The highly polished stainless steel clad columns that act as mirrors further animate the space.