Members Bar, Firhouse Community & Leisure Club

This is a local community based centre, catering for many activities for all age groups, which also incorporates a member's bar at first floor level.

The brief was to totally redesign the bar to provide a more attractive environment to appeal to a wider cross section of members. In place of the original conservative style the designers decided on a contemporary theme incorporating painted wood panelling, split levels and a variety of seating arrangements.

The project comprised the refurbishment and updating of an existing bar in a community based club. The brief was to update the whole floor excluding the actual bar counter, with remedial work only to the back bar. This involved knocking down walls and opening up the new larger space. Ceilings which were originally of different height and style had to be reprofiled, and the new larger space to be redefined. The atmosphere was to be luxurious, but comfortable and community orientated rather than 'High Tech.'

This was achieved by using tongue and grove panelling on the longest wall and chimney breast, half glazed doors with tongue and grove panel to match, and simply profiled architraves, all painted a dark airforce blue. The panelling also defined part of the new raised area, the remainder comprising a simple brass and glass low level screen. The floors were finished in oak stained to match the bar, with large panels of cream and blue tiles inset.

Seating was changed to a mixture of banquette seating, high and low stools armchairs and couches. Lighting consisted of recessed downlighters defining the edge of the bar counter with plaster uplighters/downlighters on the perimeter walls, supplemented by table lamps to give an intimate level of lighting in several areas.

The adjoining multi-purpose room was also panelled, with integrated radiator cabinets, using the same wall lights but supplementing these with optional stronger lighting for alternative activities. Windows throughout were dressed in mahogany large slat venetian blinds with cream tape.

Client: Firhouse Community Leisure.