Melding art deco, futurism and turn-of-the-century industrialism, Bar Ampere is a whimsical new addition to Melbourne’s bar scene.
January 10th, 2012
Situated above Melbourne’s ancient but still operational Russell Place Substation, Bar Ampere takes its cues as much from its location – or rather, its underground – as from Parisian café culture.
The al fresco area, with its high white arches, resembles a typical European-style café. Inside is a tribute to machinery of the mid and turn-of-the-19th century machinery, an homage to the energy of the futurist movement.
Architects and interior design consultants Donna Brzezinski and Greg Buhagiar of BG Architecture worked with venue owner Vernon Chalker and Michael Anderson of Skidmark Designs to create the design.
Old meets new throughout the interior. The main bar is backed by a feature wall of bottle ends set within a steel frame, grouted into place and back-lit with LED lighting. Overhead hangs a custom ’Sputnik’ light feature, made of an antique hairdressing heat lamp and 2 reproduction mid-century Sputnik light fittings, joined so that the fittings appear to be crashing into each other.
Custom badges resembling those seen on old electrical machinery of the era reference the substation underfoot. An antique circuit board is a standout feature of the space.
Concrete walls with original graffiti intact serve as a reminder that they were once exposed to the elements.
Furniture continues the old-meets-new motif. Wooden tables with an aluminium trim are teamed with Warren McArthur-designed ex-military aluminium chairs mass-produced during the Second World War.
Attention to detail and a plethora of custom or specially-sourced objects and finishes create a loving homage to a bygone era.
BG Architecture
bgarch.com.au
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Between Tuesday 27 and Friday 30 April, Corporate Culture was visited by award winning product designer, Cecilie Manz. Cecilie introduced her designs to a group of local interior designers and architects in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
We spoke with George Fleck, Vice President and Global Brand Leader of W Hotels, about the intermingling of hotel and hospitality design trends.
Suitable for dual and multi-screen configurations, this monitor arm from Colebrook Bosson Sanders breaks new ground in terms of usability and ergonomic design.
Wood Marsh, a practice that spans 40 years, has been the first to design many of Melbourne’s landmark infrastructure projects – including the monumental noise walls along the Eastern Freeway (the first non-building to receive the Victorian Architecture Medal), Eastlink, the Geelong bypass and the pedestrian bridge at the west end of Bourke Street. The […]