RUIN BAR | KLOPPER & DAVIS ARCHITECTS

The client brief was to transform a heritage-listed building into a thriving hospitality venue.

The project was successful due to the collaboration between all parties, who embraced the concepts of decay and rebirth as themes for the design and venue. The tenant’s extensive experience in the hospitality industry, had a good understanding of the operational requirements.

They were, however, also open to exploring creative solutions to incorporate different elements of the program into the building and resolve any issues that arose on site. The final result was a harmonious balance between old and new, creating a unique ‘patchwork quilt’ composition that perfectly fits the character of the venue – Ruin Bar. The client and tenant were both delighted with the outcome.

Ruin Bar is formed of a series of beer rooms and garden residing inside a previously derelict and inhabited building. Each of the rooms celebrates the old fabric by juxtaposing and highlighting the original finishes with new insertions. The entries of the bar both transport the occupant from a remnants of the outdoor finishes, to framing and highlighting the original state of the building.

A collaborative and evolving approach was taken during the design and construction phase. A revaluation of each material was constantly done based on what was revealed on site. Informed by this assessment, the design continued to be developed and refined to create this heavily layered and rich space.