14 THE WORLD OF HOSPiTALiTy
KRyPT.BAR
krypt.bar - Büro KLK
Bar
During the renovation works on an ancient
heritage building from the late 18th century
on Vienna’s traditional Berggasse, a bricked up
staircase was found. It led to a twelve meters
deep, second cellar area with approximately
250 square meters. Located between
Votivkirche and Sigmund Freud’s apartment,
this cocktail and underground bar is an
aesthetical gem.
Historical investigations showed that it was
a semi-legal establishment in the 50ies and
60ies in an era of Vienna’s flourishing jazz
scene represented by names as Joe Zawinul
or Fatty George. So the generic “genius
loci ‘did not have to be invented but simply
revealed.
The circulation and dramaturgy of the cocktail
bar starts at an undecorated, narrow entrance
door that leads to a first-basement level,
containing the wardrobe and a mirrored
vestibule to a “floating” stair case, which
suggests a touch of “Sunset Boulevard”. This
pathway leads directly to the seven-meters
main bar. Several alcoves, a hidden booth,
the smallest art gallery in Vienna and secret
hallways surround the center piece and give
the impression of a nearly surreal venue fallen
out of times.
Due to the strict constraints concerning
the conservation of a historic building the
whole building equipment and appliances
were situated in a concrete floor plate
and in a load-bearing trussing which was
directly generated from the engineering
requirements. The whole static structure
as well as the ventilating pipes and further
installations, were cladded in composition
gold. The floor plate is covered with a layer
of Italian nero marquina marble manually laid
in a herringbone bond. The cladding of the
bar counter was cut out of a massive block of
Sahara noir laurent gold marble applied in a
mirrored pattern, and the counter plate was
crafted out of a massive European walnut.
The furniture and illumination give the
impression as if it was directly carried out of
a museum of international furniture design.
The famous Platner Arm Chairs by Knoll, the
candle light by Ingo Maurer or the Sofa DS-
1025 by Ubald Klug are arranged with the
brand-new bean bags by Alexander Wang for
Poltrona Frau.