Hospitality Design - October 2012 - 26

perspectives

sketchbook

superba snack bar
> For his new small plates driven pastaria, Superba Snack Bar, Paul Hibler, the restaurateur behind Los Angeles mini chain Pitfire Pizza, wanted the design to capture the personality of his beloved sophisticated-meetssurf haven neighborhood of Venice, and its “outsider, free-thinking art community.” Snagging a corner location on burgeoning Rose Avenue (“I knew Rose was really about to burst on the scene,” he points out) was a boon, and so was the decision to hire local firm
Design, Bitches, which had already proven its creative mettle working on the Culver City outpost of Hibler’s pizzeria, as well as his own home. The team will collaborate once again on Venice’s forthcoming Superba Food & Bread. “Paul wanted to create a community space that brings locals together and is a re lection of the neighborhood; a place where people can enjoy tasty, high-quality food in a relaxed and fun atmosphere,” says Design, Bitches co-founder Catherine Johnson.

This design directive translated to an eclectic mash-up of materials all successfully co-existing in the restaurant’s tight quarters: brass truck bushings, aqua pool tiles, poncho blankets procured from the boardwalk, camping lanterns, a gold ceiling, and vintage light fixtures. Large stacking doors, demarcating the interior and patio, as well as communal tables wrapped by the patio and banquette, are among Superba Snack Bar’s standouts, says Design, Bitches co-founder Rebecca Rudolph: “The carefully curated Southern Californiacentric design elements combine together in an oddly beautiful way to encourage a convivial atmosphere, reminiscent of hanging out poolside or by a campfire on the beach.”

pouring ribbons
> New York’s East Village already teems with cocktail bars, but Pouring Ribbons, the long-awaited second loor lair from Alchemy Consulting, stands out not only for its adventurous beverage program but also its design. “It had to be as far away from a speakeasy, or our notions of a speakeasy, as possible,” says Dieter Cartwright, one half of New York-based design duo Warren Red, who created the lo ty space overlooking Avenue B. “It had to be fresh and well-lit; not modern and slick.” A timeless space outfitted with Art Deco light fixtures is what the Alchemy barmen desired, and so Cartwright and partner Jonathan McElroy seamlessly melded industrial, elegant, and masculine details. Through the arched window, light seeps into the space, complemented by a
palette of soothing blue and green hues and honey-stained wood. A repurposed wrought iron window guard stands in the middle of the room like a compelling piece of vintage artwork. High-backed dining chairs culled from a Parisian antique store add a burst of vibrancy in the form of orange velvet upholstery. Tables, with their covert builtin slots, are an engaging element, allowing guests to hide their menus until they are ready for another cocktail. Adding another layer of intrigue are sliding panels and nooks and crannies tucked into the backbar’s millwork. “You’ll see we lip the panels upside down, but it’s within a system of uniformity; there’s a continuity and thread going through it all. There’s also a sense of discovery in finding a hundred-year-old bottle of Chartreuse in a cubbyhole,” says Cartwright.

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October 2012 hospitalitydesign.com
http://www.hospitalitydesign.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - October 2012
