Bar & Co | Joanna Laajisto Creative Studio

Bar & Co is a bistro-style cocktail bar located in a beautiful Renaissance Revival building in the heart of Helsinki city. The concept of the bar was to create 4 rooms with different atmospheres keeping the design still continuous and coherent from room to room. As you enter the space, a large 6 meter long marble bar will greet you and invite you for a cocktail. The adjacent “butcher’s room” with a large butcher’s block island, bar height tables and stools continues with the bar’s upbeat tempo and is perfect for large groups enjoying after work drinks and snacks. The next room, which is called “the library” with comfy sofas and lounge chairs is suitable for quieter conversations. And lastly there is “the smoking room” with the most intimate atmosphere, created by green wall paneling and build in cabinetry. This room is also designed to house private meetings and functions both day and night time. The over all design concept adopts some elements from the classic bistro-style, such as the glossy white wall tiles and marble table tops, but in a new and modern way so the look is fresh and up to date. The Interior Architect Joanna Laajisto believes in creating environments that will last more then a passing trend, so classic materials such as natural oak, white carrara marble and pure white walls are used throughout. All the black wrought iron fixtures, such as table legs, bar shelving and interior window frames, were made by a local black smith. All the wooden tables and benches were made by the restaurateur Filip Stenius him self, per the interior architect’s designs. Although the design of Bar & Co is quite minimalist and clean, lot of attention has been made to detail. Custom made textile birds were ordered from the British artist Adigail Brown, vintage copper cake molds are used as tea light holders, all the books in the library are hand picked by the owner and the copper candle sconces through out the space were designed by the interior architect especially for the bar. Bar & Co specializes in fine wines and champagnes by the glass as well as innovative cocktails. Small bites to eat such as the house chili dog and oven baked brie are served on the side. The bar will celebrate it’s grand opening on the 27th of September 2012.