Rutherford's Corner

It was our client’s dream to one day open a bar and for Rutherford’s Corner they wanted to create a venue akin to an English pub, that would showcase the local beers and spirits their wine store had become known for. Given pubs were often the social centre of a neighbourhood, our design intention became two-fold; to create the sense it was already part of the neighbourhood’s fabric but also to provide an experience whereby patrons would feel as though they could be anywhere in the world. Two distinct spaces were conceptualised, a casual bar on the ground floor which was a blend of traditional English pub and European bar, and a lounge upstairs taking cues from British Colonial interiors. Understanding the architectural and interior elements of traditional English public houses, European bars, and beer halls together with British Colonial history was key to its authenticity. This led to the introduction of archways, wall linings, dado rails, wallpaper and lighting fixtures and informed the colour selection of materials and finishes. Custom elements such as textured and patinaed plaster, and a mural set across a series of frames created the elevated and exotic ambience that delivered the design. The building has seamlessly become part of the neighbourhood landscape, its social fabric and is now a local landmark in its own right.