Projects That Keep on Giving
Atlas Bar Singapore, another feather in its cap
You never know how successful a project is going to be, only time will tell. When we accepted and started to work on the Atlas Bar in Singapore many years back, we were a bit apprehensive. We did not know the client, the scope was not totally clear and the client’s intentions were also vague. It was an existing bar with an 8m high wine tower which used an iconic “angel” being hosed up to pick out a selected bottle high up in the tower. It was part of the spectacle. But besides that there was little mood or ambiance, probably why the owner wanted to breeze new life in the venue.
They hired one of the best F+B operators to develop the “experience”, a renowned interior designer and set out to realise a revitalised interior that would provide this sought after magic. While we went through several rounds of value engineering, it started to become clear that the client was very serious about wanting to create the best of the best. Considering the big space volume with a nearly 8m high ceiling, the ornamental art deco finishes, lighting was going to be the major key to success. How to make a huge space like that become intimate and relaxing, something that the previous design absolutely did not have.
The “secret” for us was to bring the lighting down as close as possible to the guests which resulted in a structural masterpiece in the form of a hanging lighting rig just meters above the seating areas. Finished in the same polished copper art deco material the rig seemingly disappears against the backdrop of the space, making the light looking like coming out of nowhere. With the light now much closer to the ground, it could be easily focussed to create pleasant and controlled islands of light in combination of the decorative floor and table lamps. The magic was created!
In 2017, immediately after the bar was re-opened to the public it was listed as the 8th best bar in the world, reaching the very top in the years following! It subsequently won us prestigious lighting design awards and collected (and still collects) many other hospitality awards. This week again it received another accolade; 2 pins on the newly created global Pinnacle Guide list, that aspires to become the Michelin Guide for bars. Another feather in its cap, a project that keeps on giving…
Not only in terms of awards, but mostly in terms of recognition and spin off projects that have come our way based on this success. If only we would have a crystal ball at the start of each project…
