Art Deco reflections of the "Speakeasy" underground scene. Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture
22/06/2024.
[Colorado] USA
metalocus, MINERVA GARCÍA DE CASTRO
metalocus, MINERVA GARCÍA DE CASTRO
Originally conceived as a cannabis lounge, the project by the architectural firm MQ Architecture Stella's Cucina is imagined as a project heir to the underground scene of the American Prohibition era, as it is located in the core of a new commercial building across from the historic district of Boulder, a city belonging to Boulder County, in the state of Colorado, in the United States.
The project, which establishes no relationship with the city and cannot be perceived from the outside, gives rise to an elegant but hidden space whose lighting strategy is to provide natural light through a central skylight that bathes the bar with light at all times and functions as a sun dial, like a clock that generates a completely new hospitality experience shrouded in mystery.
The project, which establishes no relationship with the city and cannot be perceived from the outside, gives rise to an elegant but hidden space whose lighting strategy is to provide natural light through a central skylight that bathes the bar with light at all times and functions as a sun dial, like a clock that generates a completely new hospitality experience shrouded in mystery.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Floor plan. Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture.
Section. Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture.
Fugged section. Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture.
Axonometry. Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture.
The project by the studio MQ Architecture is organized as a path marked by different materials such as brick, oak cladding, glass or aluminum, which cause the space to compress or expand and where scenes are revealed or hidden pushing the guest towards the center and whose grid configuration allows the diner to understand the scene at a glance.
Stella's Cucina creates an Art Deco influenced color palette that results in a warm atmosphere with elegant details in a nostalgic 1930's tone, bringing together contemporary Italian cuisine with the Speakeasy concept of the American underground in a main dining space whose central bar, rotated 45 degrees and with curved corners, invites the diner to surround it and approach the perimeter tables that create decompression, more relaxed spaces.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Project description by MQ Architecture
Originally conceived as a cannabis lounge, Stella’s Cucina sits in the core of a new commercial building facing Boulder’s Historic District. As the enterprise could not be seen from the exterior, the space does not establish relationships with the city; therefore, we envisioned the project as an inheritor of the Speakeasy underground scene of the American Prohibition era and we sought the opportunity to bring natural light through a central skylight. This idea of an old-fashioned, elegant, but concealed space, profoundly influenced the design of the project. Only an "S" indicates Stella's entrance on Walnut Street, hidden behind a towering 12 feet aluminum door under a perforated metal canopy.
From entering the building to siting at your table, Stella's is an entirely new hospitality experience, one shrouded in elegance and mystery: as one opens the aluminum door, the space is compressed with a curved white ceiling. The existing brick wall on one side and its reflection along the opposite mirrored wall, escort guests to the interior. In the lobby, an oak wall with a check-in window awaits the visitors, where an unseen bouncer cards the guests. From there, a hidden wooden door reveals a dark corridor, where the host welcomes the visitors and walks them through a compressed and dimmed space with wood walls. The low light adapts the eye and the slotted curved wall forces to change direction and pushes the guest into the squared dining room with a massive 16’x16’ skylight centered in a navy blue background. The light is filtered through a golden aluminum egg crate. Below, a 45 degree rotated bar with curved corners, welcomes and invites the guests onto the perimeter tables. This entrance view emphasizes the grid and allows the guest to have a glimpse of the whole dining room, while the back mirrored wall doubles the whole space, and a large screen wall serves as a digital window.
Stella’s Cucina by MQ Architecture. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
A curved fixed seating is arranged on the perimeter of the square. The flesh fabric of the millwork waves and flows reflecting the relaxing, inventive environment for guests to unwind and let the space envelop them. On the left and right walls, equidistant columns separate the main space from the white vaulted dining areas in the back, which allow for a more private affair. Capping off the space, the entry wall displays a long wood wall with a modular Marihuana leaf pattern.
Stella convenes the Speakeasy concept with the contemporary Italian Cuisine proposing an Art Deco influenced color palette. The elegant navy-blue background allows the flesh tones to create a warm atmosphere with sleek accent gold elements, on a nostalgic 1930s era tone. The central skylight bathes the bar with light at all times and works as a solar dial. When the sun sets, the lights commence a sequence of settings that get darker as the DJ stage on the corner takes prominence while the Italo disco night starts.
More information
Architects
MQ Architecture. Lead architects.- Miguel Quismondo, Juan Carlos Bragado.
Project team
Jacobo Mingorance, Ignacio De Siloniz.
Collaborators
Lighting consultant.- Map Design Studio, Artemis Papadatou.
General contractor.- Dale.
Light Abilities.- Phillip Semaan (President Specification Sales), Joselyn Espinoza (Project, Quotations Manager).
General contractor.- Dale.
Light Abilities.- Phillip Semaan (President Specification Sales), Joselyn Espinoza (Project, Quotations Manager).
Client
Stella's Enterprise LLC.
Builder
Sand Construction of Colorado, LLC.
Area
370 sqm.
Dates
December 2022.
Location
Boulder, CO, USA.
Manufacturers
Arper.- Avaa Bar Stools, Catifa Chairs, Duna Chairs.
Juniper Design.- Thin Retro float Wall Sconce Light, Thin Surface Mout Vanity Light, Metropolis Suspension Light.
Pablo lights.- Bola Disc: Booths pendants, Bola Disc Flush: Entrance sconce, Bar battery lights, Bola Sphere Table lights VIP room & Millwork.
Cream fabric, Maharam.- All millwork upholstery, Arper Chairs Upholstery.
Carnegie fabrics.- Blue navy velvet fabric walls.
Daltile.- Navy blue Penny Round Tile Banquettes and Corridor Walls.
Millwork fabricator.- Raw Creative.
Luigi Bormioli.- Glasses, wine glasses.
Ohio Gratings.- Aluminum Grilles skylight & facade, all gold aluminum details.
Cambria.- Solid Surface.
Candice Luter.- Art mirrors (corridors).
Juniper Design.- Thin Retro float Wall Sconce Light, Thin Surface Mout Vanity Light, Metropolis Suspension Light.
Pablo lights.- Bola Disc: Booths pendants, Bola Disc Flush: Entrance sconce, Bar battery lights, Bola Sphere Table lights VIP room & Millwork.
Cream fabric, Maharam.- All millwork upholstery, Arper Chairs Upholstery.
Carnegie fabrics.- Blue navy velvet fabric walls.
Daltile.- Navy blue Penny Round Tile Banquettes and Corridor Walls.
Millwork fabricator.- Raw Creative.
Luigi Bormioli.- Glasses, wine glasses.
Ohio Gratings.- Aluminum Grilles skylight & facade, all gold aluminum details.
Cambria.- Solid Surface.
Candice Luter.- Art mirrors (corridors).
Photography
Miguel, Quismondo
Miguel Quismondo was born and raised in Spain. He attended the Polytechnic School in Madrid, where he graduated as an Architect. A will to extend his understanding of architecture led him to travel to the United States, where he has carried out most of his career, first working for a corporate firm (Perkins+Will) and later collaborating with Alberto Campo Baeza in the project and construction of Olnick Spanu House. Over the past decade, he has worked for Olnick Spanu in several fields spanning Design, Construction and Management. Additionally, he had the opportunity to work with many international Artists to help them implement and install site-specific projects in Garrison, NY.
During his more than two decades of professional experience in the fields of architecture construction and development, Miguel has also continued his education: he holds one Master’s degree in Real Estate Development from Columbia University and another in Construction Management from NYU. He has also recently started PhD studies in architecture, focusing on the financial aspects of design and development. He has been published in la Biennale di Venezia, Architectural Record, A+U, and Casabella, among other magazines.
During his more than two decades of professional experience in the fields of architecture construction and development, Miguel has also continued his education: he holds one Master’s degree in Real Estate Development from Columbia University and another in Construction Management from NYU. He has also recently started PhD studies in architecture, focusing on the financial aspects of design and development. He has been published in la Biennale di Venezia, Architectural Record, A+U, and Casabella, among other magazines.
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