Jing’an district in Shanghai is becoming a magnet for hip restaurants and bars, which are drawn to the more affordable rents and the gritty, underdeveloped raw spaces to be round in this area.

In designing Tribeca gastro pub – which gets its name from the Tribeca district in New York City – Linehouse wanted to create a light and fresh interior that would stand out from the dark, industrial aesthetic to be found in many of the establishments in the neighbourhood.

“The client gave us the brief of a New York industrial loft, but we wanted to reinvent the idea so we chose to use a much lighter palette of materials than the usual black metal [a preferred material of choice in industrial style interiors],” says Linehouse’s co-founder, Alex Mok.

Linehouse wanted to create a strong distinction between the existing and the new. A white datum was therefore inserted into the space, which operates as a shelf for displays and also wraps the bar with a perimeter of shadowless bulbs. This new insertion stands in contrast to the existing concrete shell, which was left in its raw state.

Table leaners are inserted into this white canopy. Also contained within this white envelope are mirrors and bronze elements, and the shadowless bulbs are infinitely reflected upon their surfaces.

The walls feature playful graphical drawings of dancing feet, drunk hats and cigarette smoke, in reference to the roaring 1920’s New York bar scene.

The bar takes up significant real estate within the pub, and is composed of stacked light wood logs. A bronze and black metal shelving also hangs from above.

In addition, Linehouse has carefully considered the outdoor space; the white canopy extends to the exterior, framing the entrance to the pub, and guests can also choose to sit out on the terrace during good weather.

“The use of the terrace was very important to the client, so the final design focused on creating a space that could fully open up on spring and autumn days,” explains Mok.

Linehouse
linehousedesign.com