SuperWhatnot / Marc&Co, Nielsen Worksop

Architect: Marc&Co in collaboration with Nielsen Worksop
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Project Team: Angus Munro, Ceirwen Burton, Lachlan Nielsen
Project completion: 2011
Project Area: 100 sqm
Photographs: Alicia Taylor

The bar is housed in the loading dock of an abandoned beauty school. The brief was for a laneway bar to retreat from the glossy retail frenzy in adjacent streets.

The laneway elevation is composed of a large window, melding the bar and laneway. The method of construction is exposed and celebrated. The steel window reveal is stitched together in ‘W’ profiles, fire rated posts are wrapped in hessian rope and an LED light makes the perforated steel logo glow at dusk.

The bar offers 3 distinct seating areas. The entry stair leads to the main bar area, which overlooks a sunken lounge and above is a loft verandah.

The bar is u-shaped enabling people to sit and observe. The bar top is poured concrete in sacrificial steel formwork, contrasted against white hexagonal tile. On the bar, custom made terrariums are for detailed observation through murky lenses. The rear wall consists of a large grey mirror, offering a dark clone to the space. The walls to one side are crusty existing brickwork, layered with the history of previous inhabitant. This is contrasted on the other side by a fibreglass backlit wall, providing shadows and suggestion.

The sunken lounge is skirted by inbuilt leather seating. The floors are recycled hardwood and the ceiling exposes the previously concealed structure. A large custom made steel barn door opens the lounge onto the laneway. It is supported by a walking castor wheel, celebrating the act of opening doors.

The loft edge is composed from reclaimed wrought iron balustrades, a reminder of the local building craft. The loft is design as a subtropical verandah with outdoor furniture , lush plant life and assortment of ornamental curiosities.