DESIGN NAME: P S 150
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Bar
INSPIRATION: The inspiration of the design was gained from its pre-war building, its heritage being in Chinatown and it formerly being a brothel.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: PS150 is a cocktail bar set in nostalgia part of Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is a speakeasy concept where the entrance is disguised as a traditional toy shop. The space is divided into three different sections, marking three distinct eras. Many of the original pre-war condition of the building were preserved, enhanced and reinterpreted. It also gives a sensual feel, dating back to the building’s former life as a brothel.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: The space was crippled with a challenging and a visually unexciting provision shop run by an old couple with an 8m shop front span divided into 3 parts.
The solution was to create a memorable hidden away speakeasy concept entrance that will look like a shop that was frozen in the past.
The spaces and texture starts to unfold, coupling with a great sense of meaning, translating the major historical milestones in the art of cocktail.
In the main hall, the music and vibe comes together creating an intimate and sexy space. A personal encounter and experience; immersive and playful.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project started in July 2015 in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur along Petaling Street and was completed in December 2015. Before and during this period, the street night scene never existed, people think of it as a complex area of town. In post 2016, the street is now cleaned up and people have started to patronise this street again. New bars and charming cafes have also sprouted up since then. The bar had been voted many times as the top 10 bars with charm in Malaysia.
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Interior Space and Exhibition Design
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: Focus was on the methodologies in using raw materials. Recycled timber was used to build the carpentry with traditional construction method harnessed by old carpentry master hands; some were done without nails.
The original pre-war bricks were exposed and its plaster stripped away, revealing the textures of the building that was once lost in time.
Natural cement used mimics the old style of these Straits Chinese shop houses. Whimsical spayed-on patterns on the floor mimicked the traditional Indian Hanna tattoo. These subtle details were added to enhance the richness of the experience.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: NA
TAGS: Bar, Speakeasy, Heritage, Memory, Pre-War, Nostalgia
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: Speakeasy bars were sprouting up in Kuala Lumpur where many of which were European or English type gentlemen bars. Hence, the need to let guests experience a meaningful and local essence of Malaysia.
Creating secret doors and walking through darken back streets are a must haves for a speakeasy concept bar. A heavy metal door situated at the rear of the bar serves as a secondary entrance for guests who want a dark street entrance adventure.
A once thriving brothel district in the 1920s echoes a sense of rich identity in ways of how positively the community had moved on.
CHALLENGE: The entrance was the greatest hurdle as the old school toy shop experience did not happen until the last one month of the project handover. The space left was at the middle section and the rear of the dark back street entrance. The owners of the provision shop wanted the front section to be selling hairclips for women. It was till the last moment where they were convinced that the bar will bring life to the front of the street. Hence, the iconic PS150 toy shop entrance was born with a suitable front entrance. Perhaps it was by chance and will of the space that the front entrance was given.
ADDED DATE: 2017-02-28 16:11:45
TEAM MEMBERS (3) : Creative Director: Mr Benjamin Kim, Interior Designer: Ms Vanny Gan and
IMAGE CREDITS: Patrick
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