062 FOCUS


Back to the future


Where are the flying cars, the hover boards and the nuclear- powered ovens? Why are we not holidaying on Mars or teleporting to work? The technology may not have caught up yet, but at least you can enjoy a drink in some truly space age surroundings, notes Kay Hill


THE SUCCESS OF predictions from classic sci-fi films may have been sadly disappointing so far (although at least we are not fighting an alien invasion – yet), but there’s still something both exciting and surprisingly nostalgic about a ‘space age’ design theme.


It certainly can’t be done in a half-hearted way – if it’s not full-on Forbidden Planet or Star Trek chic, then forget it, there’s no room here for subtlety. But done with panache, it can be a world of fun – which is just what drinkers and diners love.


Perhaps all that shiny silver evokes fond memories (or folk memories at least) of the optimism of the 1950s, when the Skylon stood proud at the Festival of Britain, nuclear power was going to give us all free energy and the space race was about to open up the universe for exploration. Or perhaps that’s overthinking it, and we just love the movies… Either way, if you’re feeling disappointed that you don’t have a robot to make your dinner tonight, nor a replicator to transform atoms into your favourite gin and tonic, then cheer yourself up with this collection of space age bars.


GRND CNTRL Shanghai, China


IS IT A SCENE from Tron, or Te Lawnmower Man? No, it’s the stunning GRND CNTRL nightclub in Shanghai, China, created by PIG Design and winner of the Asia Night Club category in the 2022 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards. Te 1,700 sq m space was designed to be a modern yet retro party space, with futuristic lighting effects.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117