Poured Bar by Studio Glithero

Anglo-Dutch designers Studio Glithero were recently commissioned by the Corinthia Hotel in London to design a pop-up bar that could be used for such events as London Fashion Week and the BAFTAs.

In typical Glithero style, the team approached the task in hand intuitively, guided by their surroundings. “The idea was to cast a bar upside down,” says Sarah van Gameren from Studio Glithero. Made from a coloured, poured, fast-hardening fluid, the bar is not just a functional object but a work of art. Layers of poly-concrete in three different colours were poured onto a completely flawless surface in a random pattern, enforced by fibre-glass mesh, aluminium and wood during the process. After casting the table top and allowing it to dry, the critical moment of flipping the structure upside down

Only when the bar was flipped - in a carefully choreographed move - did the team get to see the design for the first time. Made in one, long strip the bar measures some six metres and although several tests had been carried out beforehand, no-one knew what to expect. “In our previous tests the material was slightly stuck to the surface and we assumed that flipping the full length would be a tricky job.” Luckily the bar was lighter and less stuck than expected.

A milestone for Studio Glithero was ensuring the bar was structurally sound. With a design process that happens instinctively it can be a challenge to make sure everything functions properly, as Van Gameren explains: “We were very content with this achievement.”

“It also has a very experimental, expressionist side and a performance element to show the cocktail lovers how the bar was made.” The bar is accompanied by a film, showing the team’s work process. “It’s not just a registration though,” continues Van Gameren, “we always try to capture the moment, the mystical beauty of the creation.”

As it was created on-site, a special camera construction had to be made with the aid of Ben Washington. The installation featured a birds-eye perspective camera, mounted six metres up on a scaffolding trolly, two ladders and some wooden beams. “The whole thing was within a whisker of two, recently installed Murano glass chandeliers. To be honest, we all agreed that this was as much of an artwork itself,” recalls Van Gameren.

During the several events hosted at the pop-up bar, visitors could watch film which showed the bar’s making-of. “We hope people were surprised and amazed by the production technique. The biggest reward is always to convince people that something seemingly impossible can be done and is a beautiful process to look at.” If the real-life bar looked anything like the film, we’re sure visitors were very satisfied.

http://www.design.nl/item/poured_bar_by_studio_glithero