The Das Triest hotel, popular among international artists and celebrities, expended its offerings with the acquisition of a neighbouring property on the Margaretenstrasse which has now been renovated.
BEHF Architects was commissioned for the interior design of the bar and restaurant area. The hotel has been located in the heart of Vienna’s hip Freihaus district for more than hundred years – an area characterised by an open culture and bustling restaurant scene.
Guests enter the main room of Porto Bar through a cubic copper-covered door. The walls of the room are clad in simple yet high-quality continuous travertine stone which extends up to the ceiling. Slender bands of mirror that reflect historic photos of the harbor of Trieste add the to ambience.
In order to implement the objectives of the interior spatial acoustics, the ceiling is perforated, fitted with black sheets with mirror effect and divided by longitudinal beams. The height of the room is emphasised by a copper-shelf, hanging free from the ceiling.
A focal point of the 242sqm space is a bar counter featuring a simple travertine stone base with copper finish. On the right side of the main room, visitors are directed through shelf-like copper grid, in a high, inviting guestroom. Clad in marble, it makes reference to the timeless culture of an Italian tavern, where guests can enjoy a snack and read newspapers.
The adjoining lowered ceiling area includes private dining spaces in the form of niches and lounges reserved for larger groups and events. On the left side, the main room widens to form two niches. This is where tables with soft green-velvet and shimmering sofa-benches stand.
Terrazzo flooring in grey-black runs throughout the entire space, with striking scissor-arm awnings defining the upper reaches of the space.