For decades, office design has been borrowing from other spaces to make work feel less like work. Now, hospitality is taking ideas from the office, as seen in Lève Office Bar in Turin, designed by Fabio Fantolino.
The bar is located in central Torino, overlooking a garden, and takes inspiration from 1960s office interiors, with chrome-plated metal, stainless steel, and mirrored surfaces. The use of these materials creates a unique aesthetic that is both nostalgic and modern, reflecting the evolution of office design over the years.
Design Inspiration
The result is a system of reflection and contrast, guiding guests through the space as the hours pass, from coffee-bar calm by day to a more charged atmosphere by night. This transformation is achieved through the careful placement of design elements, such as the long stainless steel counter and the luminous ceiling grid, which work together to create a dynamic and immersive environment.
Fantolino’s design unfolds across three rooms, each with its own sequence, featuring a long stainless steel counter, herringbone flooring, and a luminous ceiling grid. The herringbone flooring, in particular, adds a touch of warmth to the space, balancing out the cool tones of the metal and glass. The use of warm brick tones in the flooring also helps to create a sense of continuity and flow throughout the space.
The second room leans into the office reference, with cool steel, chrome, and mirror meeting the warmth of wood and leather, and a red timber-and-laminate boiserie trimmed in fine metal. The combination of these materials creates a sense of tension and contrast, which is balanced by the use of green resin flooring, adding a touch of natural elegance to the space.
Lighting and Atmosphere
Lighting plays a key role, with retro-style pendants and graphic precision from Lambert & Fils’ Ipoli 06 and Ipoli 01, and a softer glow from Santa & Cole’s Maija. The use of different lighting styles and intensities helps to create a sense of depth and layering in the space, drawing the eye through the various design elements and creating a sense of visual interest.
The bar’s design is a nod to the open-plan American office, with small sofas arranged as low partitions, and a red enamel counter that opens into a cocktail station by night. The use of small sofas as partitions is a clever design move, creating a sense of intimacy and separation within the larger space, while also referencing the traditional office layout.
As the hours tick over, the space transforms, with the stainless steel counter and mirrored surfaces creating a precise system of reflection and contrast. The mirrored surfaces, in particular, help to create a sense of expansiveness and depth, making the space feel larger than it actually is.
The use of chrome-plated metal and saturated color adds to the overall aesthetic, creating a unique and captivating atmosphere. The saturated color, in particular, helps to create a sense of energy and vitality, drawing the eye through the space and creating a sense of visual interest.
A New Take on Hospitality
Lève Office Bar is proof that even the most rigid spaces can be reimagined, and that hospitality can take inspiration from unexpected sources, like the office. The bar’s design shows that spaces can be transformed and reinterpreted, and that the most unlikely inspirations can lead to something new and innovative, much like tactile tiles redefine surfaces.
With its unique design and atmosphere, Lève Office Bar is a must-visit destination in Turin, offering a new take on hospitality and a chance to experience the city in a different way. The bar’s location, overlooking a garden in central Torino, adds to its appeal, creating a sense of tranquility and calm that is rare in urban environments.
It is a place where people can gather and enjoy themselves, surrounded by a unique and captivating atmosphere that is both nostalgic and modern. The bar’s design, with its careful balance of materials and lighting, creates a sense of warmth and intimacy, making it an ideal space for socializing and relaxation.
The attention to detail in the design of Lève Office Bar is evident in every aspect of the space, from the custom-designed stainless steel counter to the carefully chosen lighting fixtures. The result is a space that is both beautiful and functional, a true masterpiece of design that showcases the possibilities of reimagining rigid spaces and creating something new and innovative.
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