Fusion pops Perrier Jouët cork to anoint bar at ROH

The Royal Opera House in London is set to unveil a redesigned champagne bar, created by Fusion Design, next month.

It is the first time the bar, located in the Vilar Floral Hall, has been overhauled and it marks Perrier Jouët’s appointment as official champagne supplier to the Royal Opera House. For the past 57 years Moét & Chandon has been supplying champagne to the ROH.

Discussions for the new partnership and project began in autumn 2004; Fusion was commissioned to create the moveable bar by Perrier Jouët in October.

The Belle Ãpoque Bar, as it will be called, is 4m high and made from aluminium. It is designed in an Art Nouveau style and features leaves inspired by Lalique dragonfly wing motifs. These will be lit by a glowing back-bar in amber and green to illuminate the champagne bottles on display. The copper bar top is reminiscent of a Parisian bistro and the whole structure will be studded with crystals to emulate the packaging on a Perrier Jouët champagne bottle, which was designed by Emile Galle.

The revamped design complements the Victorian style of the Vilar Hall more than the previous structure, explains a spokesman for the ROH.

‘It is a dramatic design and is a prime site in London to present a brand like Perrier Jouët,’ he adds.

Sophie Douglas, director at Fusion, says the structure is still being worked on.

‘To create a moveable sculptural form within the space was an unusual and very interesting project. At the moment, blacksmiths are manufacturing the bar,’ she adds. It will be completed by 15 February.

Architects Jeremy Dixon and BDP carried out a £180m redevelopment of the Royal Opera House in 1999.