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An eco-friendly wine bar for the oenophile -- and those that might like to become one.
By Matthew Hall
The owner of this 1,100-square-foot space asked designers from AkarStudios to create an environment that would appeal to both the wine enthusiast and the wine curious. “We sought to render a modern version of the enoteca [wine library], with a feel that’s warm, modern and eco-friendly,” says principal Sat Garg.
Located on the ground floor of a landmark building in downtown Santa Monica, the centerpiece of the space is a self-service wine console. Overhead, a fabric-clad lampshade “creates a beacon-like glow that highlights this focal point,” Garg notes.
A big statement could overwhelm such an intimate space. Garg and his team found the right balance between scale and impact with a 1950s-era wall fabric mural depicting rows of partially covered letters by Danish artist Gunnar Andersen.
“That piece aptly mimics the endless conversations that take place over a good glass of wine,” says Garg. Such small talk can also take place within the wine bar’s front patio. Ma enclosed by a fence made of mangaris wood, the same material used in the tabletops inside.
And because this is eco-conscious California, the wine bar carries the requisite sustainable credentials, including perimeter walls lined with rows of stained cedar siding planks; a concrete floor that’s covered with a soy-based stain; and countertops made from recycled glass fragments and wood planks.
Project Participants:
Client:
Pourtal, Santa Monica, Calif. -- Stephen Abronson, owner
Design and Architect:
AkarStudios, Santa Monica, Calif. -- Sat Garg, principal; Sean Morris, graphics designer
General Contractor:
Craig Bentz Construction, Los Angeles
Audio/Visual:
Kristin Anderson, Los Angeles
Chairs:
H.D. Buttercup, Culver City, Calif.
Counters:
Trend USA, Miami
Flooring:
ECO Safety Products, Phoenix
Lighting:
Intense Lighting, Anaheim, Calif.
Hollywood Lamp & Shade Co., Los Angeles
Tabletops:
Kosakura, Santa Ana, Calif.
Wallcoverings and Materials:
Maharam, Los Angeles