The Bar at Chihuly

Chihuly Garden and Glass approached Hinge Studio to solve a problem. The museum’s cafe was capturing daytime visitors but felt they were missing patrons passing through Seattle Center later in the day on their way to concerts and sporting events at the the Center’s newly refurbished Climate Pledge Arena or any of the Center’s other performing arts venues. The challenge presented was to maintain the carefully curated display of Dale Chihuly’s collections and artwork, but to shift the vibe and function of the space from daytime museum cafe/diner to nighttime bar/upscale restaurant. The existing space, only 15’ wide, was divided into two intimate seating areas at either end with a long central bar. The back bar was carefully integrated into the existing lit display of Chihuly’s Drawings. Understated lighting of the bottle shelves highlights the bar function but does not distract from the dramatic illumination of the artwork and collections above. Hinge carefully centered the new bar between the existing windows to maximize its visibility in the evenings from Thomas Street – a primary pedestrian thoroughfare between evening venues and parking.

It was very important to the client that the bar maintain Dale Chihuly’s design aesthetic. The team drew on Kate Cudney’s knowledge, gained from her past experience working with the artist during the original design of his museum, to carefully select materials. Two important features were the long, live-edge counter and the tin bar face – both created with materials that the artist is very fond of. The wood evokes the artist’s love of the Pacific Northwest’s forests while the bar’s tin face is reminiscent of the tin ceilings found in historic architecture from his hometown of Tacoma, Washington. Functionally the bar was designed to be highly efficient and minimize server movement in the tight space. The back bar has cabinets that pass through to the kitchen, allowing for the transfer of dishes and restocking barware. The existing tables were covered with a thin steel sheet to tie into the finishes of the new bar while preserving the display boxes showcasing Chihuly’s collections.