NEWH - August 2003 - (Page 46)

marysol: real and magical in the windy city Integrating the business needs of a nightclub with visionary goals by: Gerardo Fitz-Gibbon AIA, Principal, FADESIGN A new Cuban nightclub and restaurant has opened in Chicago that we think truly expands the notion of what most of us have come to expect when craving a night of Latin fun and drinks. Located on the extremely competitive West Randolph Street, Chicago’s premier restaurant and nighttime entertainment row, Marysol offers a glimpse at how business realities can coexist and even facilitate visual exuberance. FADESIGN was fortunate to be on board as the designer and architect of the project from the beginning. We were responsible for naming the concept (Mar-y-sol in Spanish translates to “sea-and-sun”), creating the logo, signage and menus, as well as designing the interiors and all of the custom furnishings, lighting and decorative elements. Our participation enabled us to approach the project in a very holistic manner and we were able to develop all aspects of the project simultaneously; often letting developments in one aspect of the design generate insights for others. We were specifically charged to create a new and innovative vision of the Latin genre and, in order to maximize the success of the venture, to design a facility capable of serving various functions: a bar, a tapas lounge, a restaurant, a live music and dance space, and a banquet/function space; all within a 4500 square foot floor plate. It was also clear from the beginning that these functions would occur in varying combinations and would be likely to vary by time, day, week and season. Our goal in planning the spaces focused on minimizing investment by utilizing as much of the existing mechanical and electrical systems as possible while providing maximum flexibility within the space for a truly multi-functional entertainment program. We developed the visual idea in tandem with the planning task. The inspiration for the design owes more to the recently published moody photographs of contemporary Cuba by Robert Polidori and Andrew Moore, and to the Cuban modernist design tradition, than to the nineteen forties travel postcard and bongo drum esthetic most of us come to associate with Cuban entertainment venues. This influence was promising in allowing us to use strong color and form to transform the existing site and to differentiate the concept from its existing neighbors on Randolph Street. We were also adamant about working within a modern and even futuristic vocabulary from the beginning and setting a goal of capturing the “real-magical,” a notion framed many years ago by Cuban writer and critic Alejo Carpentier that refers to the surreal quality that pervades Latin American art and culture as a result of its widely diverse and coexistent heritages. Focusing on a visionary and progressive goal freed us from the obligatory cozy-nostalgic approach and opened the way to explore new possibilities. The all-pervasive color scheme of the design was projected as an architecture of pure color composition or a modern painting instead of series of rooms. A careful delineation of green hues, suggestive of the sea and often contrasting in value, intensity and finish, create a variety of optical illusions meant to play with one’s peripheral vision and anchor the various informal arrangements of lounge seating throughout the room. The giant fluorescent-green glowing pendants anchor each of the lounge settings; along with various floor-to-ceiling drapes they underscore the verticality of the interior. In the East room of the nightclub, which houses the Bar and Tapas Lounge and is really the heart of the nightclub function, a large undulating bar dominates. We designed a series of flexible lounge type seating layouts to seat 46

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH - August 2003

NEWH - August 2003
Contents
Letter From the Editor
Hospitality News
On the Road Again
Calling All Entries
Tips on Specs
The Creation of the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort
Signature Golf Resorts
Designing a Golf Clubhouse
International Purchasing
Creating a Vision for Clubhouse Renovations
Signage for Today’s Golf Resort
The History of Nightclubs
To See and Be Seen
Appealing to the Senses
Marysol–Real and Magical in the Windy City
The Juggling Act—The “Ooh and Aah” vs. Value Engineering
Cork—Not Just for Wine Bottles Anymore
Lessons Not Learned: Life Safety Issues From the Cocoanut
Small Business Advice...
Things to Consider When Building, Renovating or Expanding
Industry Partner Education
Sources and Credits
Bios

NEWH - August 2003