Studio DB and Construct work on Olympic pop-up

Studio DB and Construct are working on designs for pop-up members club, The Fringe, situated 100m from the London 2012 Olympic Stadium in east London.

The Fringe is not officially affiliated with the Olympics, though the proximity to the site has seen owners create the venue as an alternative to the event, or as a place for those with Olympics tickets to visit before or after watching sporting events.

The site includes six bars, a club, a coffee bar and lounges, all housed within a four-storey Victorian former stable building which overlooks the River Lea at Old Ford Lock in the London borough of Tower Hamlets.

Studio DB, which was appointed without a pitch due to an existing relationship with the client, the building’s owner and The Fringe founders, is designing all interiors; while consultancy Construct is designing the graphics for The Fringe.

The yard area, ground floor and first floor will be used for shows from DJs and bands, and to screen sports; while the second and third floors will have a ‘more premium feel’, according to Studio DB.

Philip Dolman, director of Studio DB, says, ‘The ground and first floor are very much a festival-meets-Borough-market vibe, it’s all about good street food and music, but that’ll stop for events such as the 100m final. It’s kind of supplementing the sports atmosphere.’

According to Dolman, the look and feel of the ground and first floors will reflect the warehouse-like building, with a ‘utilitarian’, ‘monochrome’ appearance. The second and third floors, which customers pay more to visit, will be more high-end.

Studio DB has also designed bespoke furniture to be used throughout the space, created with utilitarian materials including shuttering ply, soft wood and OSB.  These pieces will be used alongside upholstery and found pieces.

Existing fluorescent lighting is being adapted using photographic and theatre filters and augmented with industrial and site festoon lighting, and The Penthouse area features a Baccarat chandelier.

The horse heritage of the site is reflected by displaying photographic pieces from Equus by Tim Flach.

The Fringe opens on 20 July and will remain open for 51 days.