Leading bar and restaurant design studio AfroditiKrassa has introduced a space-defining ‘metal mesh architectural drapery’, as part of its urban opulence interior design concept for Hilton Tower Bridge’s new 300 square metres destination bar, TwoRuba, which opened in September 2014.
Hilton brand transformation
The Hilton brand, nearly a century old, is going through massive transformation, loosening up its brand guidelines for design and inviting rising stars of hospitality design such as AfroditiKrassa to contribute to the future of their sites.
AfroditiKrassa’s approach to a client brief is always aimed to design a true category definer. Its approach on this project was no different; conceiving TwoRuba and leading to the Studio’s sourcing of a unique material to develop an extremely flexible space that transforms seamlessly from casual coffee bar at daytime to sleek destination lounge bar at night.
AfroditiKrassa pushes the boundaries of the traditional curtain with a modern interpretation of the room divider using ‘metal mesh drapery’, an innovative, eco friendly and hardwearing bronze metal material. The curtain works alongside a central “catwalk” area which links all three levels of the bar and from which the entire space is articulated. To emphasize this strong sense of direction, lighting pendants rhythmically dress the ceiling and guide customers through the space. The combination of bespoke modular loose furniture ensures maximum flexibility for both groups and more intimate private settings.
Duality and contrast
AfroditiKrassa’s concept for the bar, TwoRuba, is based on dualities, reflecting the duality and contrast of the area’s rich historical background: London’s iconic Tower Bridge and the modernity of the surrounding buildings; and on the other hand Bermondsey, which though it now buzzes with urban cool, is rooted in the trades of Leather, Hide and Wool Exchange – a great source of inspiration for the Studio when selecting materials, textures and patterns for the project.
Based on urban opulence, the material palette plays on contrasts: luxurious soft fabrics, such as quilted tan leather and deep purple suede with more hardwearing materials such as concrete, copper, brass and timber. The walnut timber adds warmth and a refined elegance to the design whilst the bronze mirror is a more lavish finish in the interior.
AfroditiKrassa plays on contemporary and traditional references: traditional lead glass windows are the inspiration for the diamond pattern, driving the aesthetic of the space and recurrent within the detailing of the design. The new addition to the ground floor is a separate room intended for private hiring for the hotel clientele or walk-in private parties. The interior is a combination of a sexylounge with an urban edge to the materials and details. The diamond pattern creates a wall panelling, subtly backlit.
TwoRuba Hilton London Tower Bridge, 5 More London Place, Tooley Street, London SE1 2BY
About Afroditi Krassa
Afroditi Krassa has led her eponymous design studio from strength to strength in its 12 years of operation. Taking design as a practical methodology, Krassa established the studio on graduation from the RCA and has increased the potential of design and branding manifold, adding depth to creative processes and realising that brands need to look beyond interior spaces to get their message communicated, a challenge she relishes with intense passion and commitment. This holistic approach to design means that the studio has worked with leading hospitality brands including Itsu, Sketch, Café Rouge, Dishoom, Heston Blumenthal and Curzon Cinemas, where the involvement stretches way beyond design as an environmental element, incorporating product design, ambient intention and brand philosophy.
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