Topos Design Studio’s Joji Bar at the Carlton Hotel diplomatically mediates the space between the hotel’s drop-off, lobby and Michelin-star restaurant with shapes inspired by origami.
November 30th, 2017
Three months and a long, narrow space were all Alan Fan of Topos Design Studio had to design and build a whiskey bar from scratch at the Carlton Hotel. In addition of being worthy of the hotel brand, this whiskey bar also had to be worthy of its neighbour, the Japanese restaurant Shinji by Kanesaka – a branch of the Michelin-starred omakase restaurant of the same name in Ginza, Tokyo.
The result is not disappointing. Joji Bar is a handsome and inviting venue that gently mediates the hotel’s lobby, drop off and the award-winning restaurant. The interior palette is warm, dominated by muted gold and padded surfaces in earthy tones, and accentuated by polished, brushed and perforated brass.
Cosy nooks and smaller sitting areas line one side of the room while a sculptural bar – the venue’s main feature – occupies another. The bar extends to the far end of the space, where the shape is slightly ‘folded’ to create a seating area where bar patrons can sit facing each other.
Fan borrowed the concept of Joji’s interior from origami, elegantly articulated with the shape of the bar and the ‘folding lines’ of the acoustic wall panels. “One of the main considerations for the space was the acoustics – it must be good enough so that you can hear each other when you sit together,” says Fan. “It was an opportunity to play around with the origami concept to complement Shinji’s design and give character to the whole space,” he says of the acoustic panels he incorporated.
And not just plain old origami; Fan’s origami concept is more specific – ‘an origami floating in tides’, symbolising Joji’s location as a connector between several areas in the Carlton Hotel, as much as being a destination in its own right. Reinforcing this concept and adding an extra dose of visual interest to the space is the black and white Tide carpet with a tide print from Danish brand Ege. Designed by Tom Dixon, Tide was inspired by the waves of the Thames in London. “It represents the ebbs and flows of the bar patrons,” says Fan.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
DKO’s Interior Design Director on how to create community and specificity in interior design, and how apartment living is being reconceptualised.