I asked designer Rory McCarthy to share the idea behind the space:
The idea was to create a timeless mood, refer to the historic use of the building and the freight trains rolling by just out the windows. Try to avoid clichés but not shoot for achingly hip, as we were unclear who the customers might be. But go for substance. Which of course, Steampunk celebrates. Here, as at the Edison in LA, the location demanded acknowledging the Industrial Revolution.
The big design concept was to juxtapose the highly decorative ceiling ( homasote panels silkscreened to look like overscaled, encaustic tiles, the kind that might have been used on the original floor back at the turn of the 2othC.), against the machine shop surfaces and palette below.
The bar foot rail is an actual 1800's train track...
The bar is *to die for* -- I love all the rivets. And the lines -- the curves bring just a touch of art deco to the design, and the fact that it's on feet takes a bit of the "monolithic piece of iron" feel out of it, while still harking to the old iron horses that used to steam through.
What are the wall dividers by the tables made of?Both the screen divider and bar face, panels, rivets, etc., are painted, composite wood products……
You can see more images at Rory's website. Many thanks to Rory for designing such a fun place, and for sharing it with us!
