Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio reveals first U.S. consumer project

Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio has completed its first interior project in the U.S., in the form of a new cocktail bar in Atlanta.

New 170m2 speak easy bar Himitsu has incorporated an “industrial aesthetic” with Japanese influence, says Gareth Payne, head of interior design at Tom Dixon Design Research Studio.

Inspired by a painting

A key feature within the bar, artist Todd Murphy’s painting King of Birds, has been the inspiration for colour palettes and materials used.

“It was quite a symbolic piece, so a lot of the layout focuses on this huge piece of art,” says Payne. “We used it as a cue for the colours and fabrics.”

“Raw, industrial aesthetic”

The colour palette includes copper, dark purple and teal green. Materials used include copper “industrial beams” for the bar, timber wood blocks for the stairs, natural cork on the back wall and blackened wood blocks for the side walls, which Payne says is the material “traditionally used on the floors of industrial factories”.

The consultancy also added a mezzanine level to the space, which was part of applying a “raw, industrial aesthetic”, says Payne.

He says: “We wanted to refer both to Japanese cocktail making but also the prohibition, speak easy era of America, and industry.”

Melt pendant lights

The design includes an installation of Tom Dixon’s Melt pendant lights, a brown, spherical light which was launched at this year’s Milan Design Week. The lights create a “burning ember effect” that “look great when off as well as on”, says Payne.

Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio worked on the interior and architectural design for Himitsu from the UK. It was then implemented by a local architect based in the U.S.