Cereal Whisky Bar Ignites the City Spirit through Its Interior

The existence of a bar to complete the hospitality aspect of a hotel can be said to be quite crucial. How not, the bar is not just a place to relax and drink wine but also a place that allows the relationship between hotel guests. this is what at least the owner of the Express Hotel located in Taiyuan City believes. In expressing his wish to HOOOLDESIGN, the owner wanted a whiskey bar next to his hotel.

(Front façade of Cereal Whisky Bar)

In designing this whiskey bar, HOOOLDESIGN was challenged on how to create an iconic identity that evokes the brand and makes it the center of attention. Ultimately, the design of this bar refers to the dynamism and tries to bring the city's spirit into the design of Cereal Whisky Bar.

(Identity Cereal Whisky Bar is housed in a semi-outdoor area)

The space setting of Cereal Whisky Bar is divided into two parts, indoor and semi-outdoor. Both areas are designed concerning key concepts and strive to deliver energetic and vibrant spatial experiences.

(Area semi-outdoor Cereal Whisky Bar)

HOOOLDESIGN creates an atmosphere of city spirit that guests can feel from the first time they pass through the cave passages that enter the bar's interior. This sensation invites guests to feel the "twists and turns" through the cave with walls that display visuals like cave walls filled with stalactites. This experience is strengthened by the help of artificial lighting mounted on the sides of the walls.

(Cave passage leading to the bar area)

After passing through the "cave", the guests were surprised by the appearance of the interior that did not represent the cave at all anymore. Instead, they will be greeted with a fairly large purple halo that hangs over the bar area. The area is equipped with interlocking circular installations as if depicting the hustle and bustle of the city.

(Bar area with purple halo)

(The bar area is equipped with leather chairs)

Looking deeper, visitors will see a semi-outdoor area with a large folding window at the front that can be opened or closed according to the space needs of the Cereal Whisky Bar. This window is intended as a link between the area within the Cereal Whisky Bar and the surrounding city environment. Thus this Cereal Whisky Bar can coexist with the surrounding city environment and the Express Hotel which is the main heart.

(Folding windows open the inner area outwards)

(Front façade with folding windows)

What's interesting about the Cereal Whisky Bar design is that the unevenly designed surface of the site looks like a valley with hills all around. The space is elevated using natural stone as if it were a hill surrounding the valley.

(A special elevated room depicts the hills around the valley)