Tazmania Ballroom

Design Research Studio was invited to create a slick new interior for Tazmania Ballroom, an exclusive pool bar in Central district, Hong Kong.

Our client, Gilbert Yeung, had a number of references that he wanted to include in the project. the first was his time at school in UK, referencing traditional British games rooms. He also wanted to make a nod towards James Bond and the associated retro high-tech references. Finally it needed to be somewhere comfortable, innately cool and surprising.

The entrance to the bar is up a set of stairs, through a faceted mirror corridor, which is intended to give the first indication that something exciting awaits above. These stairs lead to a cave like area, with a brass control tower dj booth. There are a number of different seating areas: outdoor with crazy paving a sweeping banquette and gold tables; indoor a huge blue sofa with oak and brass tables; 3m high quilted upholstered vip area, and lots of small lounge like nooks and crannies.

The walls are decorated to create a ghost-like library in places, and with oversized chevron timber in other areas. Towards the customer toilets the walls are covered in brass tiles some with hidden lighting so they appear to be cracking open.

Finally there is a cue storage system which allows each customer to hold their own cue in a clear locker.

The centrepiece to Tazmania Ballroom is the bar itself, a huge brass bar 5m high with curved edges.

by Design Research Studio 5