INC BAR

Inc Bar, Greenwich

 

Client: Greenwich Inc

Location: Greenwich, London

Architect: Russell Associates

Designer: Llewelyn-Bowen Design Associates

Product: Tutti Frutti + GLO (Carrara Arabescato)

Application: Bars and wall displays

Contractor: Riverwood Taverns

Completion: October 2003

Photography: © DS Photographers

Signature image courtesy of: Budri srl

‘Tutti Frutti’ is a mineral terrazzo glass-laminate. The filling in the sandwich of toughened glass layers is provided by randomly arranged slices of translucent agate and onyx. In their natural state these mineral fragments display subtle autumnal colours however they can also be stained with dyes to striking effect, an attribute that gave rise to the name coined for this innovative product by Stephen Camburn. It was Stephen who located the product in Italy for the company and was the first person to popularize its use in the UK.

The Inc Bar in Greenwich is unexpectedly located on College Approach in Greenwich in what was once Britain’s first purpose built music hall dating from the 1830’s. Acquired by its American owner in 2003, this cocktail bar and club was a valuable addition to the Group’s impressive portfolio of pubs and restaurants in Greenwich which include Bar du Musée, the Trafalgar, the Admiral Hardy and the Spread Eagle. The double height splendor of the main auditorium with its balcony has been retained and the interior given a radical makeover by well-known designer, Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen. Many of the key decorative features have been commissioned from some of Britain’s most celebrated artists and makers, such as Antony Stern and Neisha Crossland.

Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen, best known perhaps for his raffish appearance and for hosting television shows like ‘Changing Rooms’, is an award-winning interior designer, writer and broadcaster. He established his own design consultancy, LLB (Llewelyn-Bowen Associates) in 1989. In October 2003, Artifex London met with Lawrence at the site in Greenwich to discuss his ideas for the Inc Bar. Vibrantly coloured and opulent, Tutti Frutti appealed to Lawrence’s love of the dramatic. He utilized its potential brilliantly in the Pit Bar and employed decorative panels elsewhere in the interiors. Tutti Frutti rapidly became synonymous with the Inc Bar and is used in the company’s signage and branding. In addition to the Pit Bar, the company also supplied the stone for a second bar in the venue – two carefully book-matched panels of backlit Carrara Arabescato make up the front of ‘Larry’s Bar’ and a single panel provides the back wall.

Artifex London was shortlisted for idFX British Interior Design Award for Tutti Frutti in December 2004 and the Inc Bar was nominated by Time Out for the Best Bar & Restaurant Design the same year. It has gone on to win a number of accolades since.

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