An architecturally modern, fully exposed glass shell has been transformed into a classic San Sebastian Tapas Bar in a collaborative design by Emily Pedersen of Walker Corporation, and Anna Drummond and Trish Turner of Colab Design Studio.
Though located in Melbourne CBD’s ‘West End’, Collins Square, Bar
Nacional’s dark and atmospheric interior feels more like a dining
experience found in Melbourne’s urban laneways. Crafted from
distressed charcoal timbers, metallic tones with copper tiles and brass pendants, the space evokes the rustic intimacy found in traditional Basque Tapas bars.
The horseshoe shaped charcuterie and bar welcomes guests on
arrival. The smokey oak paneling, copper and exposed brickwork adds a rugged edge to this bold space.
Patrons are drawn into the theatre of Bar Nacional’s kitchen through a deliberate use of louvers and lighting - a luminous stage of black
ceramic tiles against the fast paced movements of chefs’ whites.
Inspiration for its design draws from the traditional Spanish tapas itself, “just as the layers of flavour are crafted into bite sized morsels, the interior of Bar Nacional is a complex offering of texture and tone” says Colab.
Home to some of Dockland’s leading blue chip companies, the space
caters to its diners with flexible seating options. Large leather armchairs, cosy banquettes and high cocktail bar tables provide some options for business lunches and casual after work drinks. “We wanted to create a space where the people who work above feel like they own it and regard it as their local,” says Pedersen.
The variety of dining styles was created to evoke an atmospheric sense of vibrancy in which aromas, colours, textures and sounds collide. The interior is soulful, tactile and honest, offering a unique narrative to the Docklands landscape.