design et al are delighted to announce that StudioA have been shortlisted for Bar/Club/Lounge Award in The International Hotel and Property Awards 2017.
An art inspired high level cocktail bar for the well heeled and the creative alike. The MESH design brief was to turn the empty shell into a multi-functional dynamic business lounge that was appealing to both the aspiring young entrepreneurs as well as the established. The focus was to create an environment which created a common space of inspiration for this varied group of members.
Art was a big driver of the creative process for example, the bar area was planned to be adorned with pink custom furniture pieces as a nod of the hat to the pink highveld sunset hues in the area’s own Pierneef painting. The aesthetic is a contemporary blend of luxury & industrial elements, drenched in a mixture of contemporary & masters art. Juxtaposition was the common thread in the design, hanging pierneef & maggie laubser pieces across the way from a concrete Skullboy mural, using rust finish school style chairs from Diesel/Moroso and Custom Cassina ultra high grade leather couches in the same space are examples of this juxtaposition which is laced throughout the design.
StudioA’s favourite aspect of the project is the Skullboy Mural on concrete sitting opposite a South African Masters art piece. The design walks the line between art and design the same way that it caters for the wealthy and conservative as well as the young creative set. MESH bar creates a common ground for these aesthetics and people to play.