amoeba group + szoke gergely : anker't ruin bar

anker’t ruin bar by amoeba group + gergő szőke image © designboom

during designboom’s visit to budapest’s 2012 design week, we took notice into the growing trend in ruin pubs within the city and the growing presence they have on influencing the arts and design culture. an example of this comes in the form of anker’t bar, an abandoned edifice which has gone through a transformation to become one of budapest’s hot spots for night-life.

originally found as an empty residential building, hungarian architectural amoeba group has conceived a plan to maintain the worn and damaged aesthetic elements of the structure by infusing it with minimalist branding by szőke gergely to highlight the nature of the unpreserved monumental building. in order to develop a safe area that fixes the potential sources of danger such as missing stories or unusable fallen staircases, the framework of the structure underwent a renovation to reinforce the supporting walls while still maintaining the overall visual references to damaged exterior.

through the use of recycled and cheap materials, the sections of the pub become converted into DJ booths, lounges, dance areas, and fully equipped sand sports arenas. luminous X-shaped bulbs, blue tables, sunsails are incorporated to reflect on the simplistic branding throughout the authentic architectural fabric of the space.

view of the installed bar

views leading to the main open space image © designboom

entrance to the sand sports arena image © designboom

sand sports arena

buffet cart

detail of the light boxes with branding image © designboom

view of a secondary bar within the DJ booth / dance area

dance area

entrance leading into the storage room / restrooms

restrooms accompanied by branding

construction views image via

client: anker’t bar location: paulay ede street 33, budapest architects: amoeba group – máron lengyel, dorottya gőz, rita vízkelety branding / graphic design: szőke gergelyt

slow design – slow down! is the imperative of designhet / budapest design week 2012 from 28.09. to 07.10.2012. designboom is international media partner of design het.