Moldova / Corner. Sport bar, Iași

arh. Tudora Cristina, arh. Tudora Gabriel Fotografii: stud.-arh. Ștefan Rotaru, stud.-arh. Radu Enea

When the beneficiary launched the design theme, a bar with a sports/sporting competitions theme, located on the first floor of an existing building, things seemed clear, but as the discussions progressed, we realized that a complex space with mixed valences had to be created, focused on watching sports competitions, but allowing, in addition to the main function of the bar, complementary activities such as, for example, live concerts with a small audience.

The upstairs location, although an impediment to the easy localization of the newly created space, motivated us. It thus became a challenge to find, for a correct perception of its function and specificity, a good solution for its signaling from the public space of the street.

So, we had to create a space with a clear identity, suggesting the link with sport through a warm atmosphere, without stridency and redundancy in expressing the specific. We thus avoided the cliché of the typical approach to this theme - the excessive decoration of the walls with T-shirts and colored banners - and oriented the approach towards a discreet attempt to simulate the spaces specific to sports competitions; the result: there are seats in the stands, the athletics track or the Formula 1 car track is suggested; there are even the inevitable sports pub souvenirs and displays visible from any point.

In terms of finishes, wood takes pride of place. An important element in creating the ambience, it is present in a variety of textures, finishes and colors on floors, walls, ceilings and furniture.