Intentionally excessive, the interior of bar vinvinvin (French for winewinewine) pays homage to the joy and vitality of “natural wine”.  The project began with a wine tasting. Our clients brought a good bottle of Bordeaux as well as a natural wine from Strekov, Slovakia. After tasting both, they explained that typically wine bars were designed to serve classic wines like the Bordeaux but that they would be serving natural wines and wanted that to be reflected in the design. 

Natural wine is made from organically grown hand picked grapes using yeast native to the vineyard, and contains no additives typically found conventional wine. The result is a natural, unpredictable, and bright flavor. This influenced our choice of colors, materials, and the crafting of spaces for sharing and celebration. 

Upon entering the space, you are greeted by a large service island made from repurposing a vintage wood dresser and topping it with a travertine slab. Recessed within, a stainless steel sink filled with ice keeps the wine chilled below, while two identical but inverted curved tubes act as a sculptural wine glass rack above. The seating area and open kitchen get subdivided into zones by a large central bar that follows the angle of the building. Pairs of steel tubes subdivide the bar front and curve up to support the oak bar-top and curve down to support the foot rail. Custom bar lights designed in collaboration with Lambert et Fils are made using cut and sandblasted wine bottles and telephone wire. 

The walls are treated with a mix of glossy purple and cream tiles below and a textured off-white stucco above. A shipping pallet full of old vanity lighting fixtures acquired at a liquidation sale were wrapped in colourful painted steel sheets and adorn the walls. Suspended off the walls are hexagon tables made from colourful patterns of CNCed Formica. A balance was found by mixing vintage and new furniture.

ARCHITECT: Ménard Dworkind architecture & design

ADDRESS: 1290 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal, QC H2S 1T9

AREA: 1650 sqft

DATE: July 2019

PHOTOGRAPHER: David Dworkind

MATERIALS:  leather, mosaic tile, white oak, steel, beige & purple tile, marble, plaster, Formica