When minimalism definitely reigns among the interiors of restaurants and bars, the implementation of the Aura Bar project is definitely memorable. It turns out that elegance and contemporary design can go hand in hand with gold, marble and saturated colors. Cocktail bar designed by Kacper Gronkiwicz invites you on a journey to Morocco.
photo by Łukasz Kuś, Magda Rzeszot
Hoża 27
Aura is located on the first floor of the former Jochwet Taubenhaus building, which was built in the 19th century in the very center of Warsaw and survived German bombings during World War II. Since then, the small corner unit on the first floor of the building has been home to several types of businesses. Architect Kacper Gronkiwicz took it upon himself to recall their history.
"Traditionally, such a location is specific to small craft services, so my idea was to do as much custom as possible," he says. The upholstery was done by a neighborhood artisan, the brass details were also made on site, and the stone facings of the bar came from a stonemason from one of Warsaw's cemeteries and are leftover from his orders. This also brings a scent of spirituality to the project! We also used the Polish lighting brand Chors for the bourbon lighting, and in the end, one of them would have been possible without our local and very conscientious general contractor." - Kacper Gronkiewicz writes on his website.
aurum, or gold
The restaurant's name refers to the Latin aurum, or gold, and also to the color of the gold-based cocktails, or bourbon, served there. To bring gold into the interior, Kacper Gronkiewicz installed various brass fixtures throughout the space - shelves, high tables and slender mast-style lamps hanging from the ceiling were all made of metal. Brass was also used for the massive surface of the drinks countertop, which sits on a marble base, and for lining the back wall of the bar. The interior is full of contrasting textures. The architect juxtaposed polished and matte, veneered and raw brass with soft and tactile wall covering carpets, original raw materials and modern finishes.
saturated colors
Heavy patterned rugs from Morocco and brass elements combine to create a rich interior. Kacper Gronkiewicz was inspired by Moroccan fabrics, colorful wall paintings and images from African travels, especially the country's bustling markets and the Majorelle Garden in Marrakech. It was there that the walls and fountains were also painted an intense shade of blue.
Photo by Łukasz Kuś, Magda Rzeszot
several functions of the space
To take advantage of the relatively small space, a set of openings in the floor was designed to allow several combinations of custom-made tables of various sizes. To optimize the limited space of the premises, Gronkiewicz created a system of holes in the floor where custom tables can be inserted and set at different heights. The system of holes also allows for different layouts of the space, fulfilling different functions during the day - in the morning and afternoon the bar can serve as a café, and in the evening as a cocktail bar or a small concert hall.
"Together with the investors, I tried to figure out how people would use the place during the day, evening and night, taking into account the natural lighting conditions and location in the city center. We came up with several sets of tables designed for specific times of day and people, and provided dim lighting to transform the venue from an everyday café to a cocktail bar or even a small concert hall. So I had to adapt the set of holes in the floor to the existing 19th-century layout of steel support beams, while achieving ergonomic distances between fixed tables and stools and benches." - writes Kacper Gronkiewicz.
Walking down Hoza Street, Aura Bar does not let you pass by. When it's gray outside the window, we look forward to spending time in just such interiors that transport, if only our souls to magical Morocco.
Marta Kowalska
