Bar Non-Lieu
The Bar Non-Lieu is primarily a piece of furniture - because of it's dimensions it appears like a classical bar cabinet. The possibility to step inside and take a seat opens up a whole new perspective of the object as a atmospheric bar and extends it's utilisation. The interior refers to the famous American Bar by Adolf Loos in Vienna and provides place for two people to have a drink, chat or maybe smoke a cigarette - a piece of furniture, a spacial miracle, a private retreat.
In its dimensions, the Bar Non-Lieu is indeed referring to conventional bar furniture. Its central claim to be a non-place, however, is ultimately obtained by the opportunity to enter the furniture and thus be able to experience it as space. This shifted perspective expands the viewer’s perception of the piece to an atmospheric bar with room for two people. Thereby, the Bar non-Lieu clearly focuses on interpersonal dialogue and its plain and minimal design offers the perfect setting for an intimate conversation. The interior deliberately refers to the American Bar in Vienna’s first district, which was designed and furnished by Adolf Loos.
The revolving mirrors let the coffered ceiling seem endless and present the interior much bigger than it actually is. Also, the line of sight of a person in the bar is automatically direct- ed to his or her opponent, whereas the bar’s geometry lets you see your own mirror image only indirectly. This will have the additional effect that the space never seems too narrow. The mahogany colored walls and a single candle as light source immerse the interior in a cozy twilight. The stripped- down features of the prototype are limited to two bar stools, two hand-blown drinking glasses, one hand-blown glass carafe and an astray (found object) and a small shelf. The smoke tube may be connected to a chimney, whereby ventilation of the object can be ensured. By closing both doors, you can create a multifunctional space of retreat. From the outside, only the legs of the guests are visible. Gestures and words, however, remain secret.
The interior’s design enhances the visitors’ voices acoustically and you can hear yourself clearly, while exterior noise is shielded from the outside. The central bar-table provides with the ideal distance between the two dialogue partners.
The exterior of the furniture deliberately breaks with the de- sign concept of his inner life. The geometrical struts serve the structural strength of the corpus and facilitate the mobility that is commonly associated with a shipping box. This creates an unexpected contrast between a high-quality experience of interior space and a flexible and robust-looking exterior. The bar is thus optimized for mobile use. The legs are removable and can be stored together with the bar stools inside the “shipping box”. The intention underlying the prototype was to meet with the parameters of a both cozy atmosphere and a lively dialogue. The effect of serendipity should thereby be made reproducible and generated irrespective of the surrounding space.
