In March 2020, just as the trap door closed on the country, Enter Projects Asia completed the design installation for Spice & Barley at Riverside in Bangkok. Minor International were clear on their brief : to introduce innovation and eco-awareness, giving the new brand a local context - to an International design standard. The initial concept centered around the adventures of three sisters, May, Zaza & Fei who were born in Sichuan decades earlier. As they explored the story in more depth, a design narrative was formed, connecting the past & present in a complex web of free flowing, statuesque rattan structures, as intoxicating as the characters themselves.
In their signature style, fusing 3D digital technology with traditional arts & crafts, the Enter Projects team sought to incorporate natural, renewable rattan into the 30-metre-high space. By generating free-flowing liquid geometries, to mimic beer as it’s poured into a glass, the design aesthetic gives a strong nod to Spice & Barleys anchorage as a craft Belgium Beer destination. The sweeping rattan columns flawlessly frame the backdrop of the three sisters, a dual nod to the Sichuan cuisine which ingeniously complements the beer offering. Whilst the form itself is visually awe-inspiring, the gold painted rattan also serves to hide the beer pipes, air-conditioning and other related services, paying homage to the belief that “form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union”.
Design Team:
Enter Projects Asia
Construction & Installation: Project Rattan
Client: Minor International
