Diving into the sub-terranean labyrinth of downtown Auckland, The Nightcar Lounge Bar offers a cocoon of respite from the bustle of the city streets. Deep, rich tones, moody lighting and sumptuous textures wrap the clientele in a vibe that whispers Luxury.
Sam Griffin, Creative Director at interior architecture design studio CTRL Space, reveals more about the project in this interview with Heritage Carpets, suppliers of the premium soft flooring for this award-winning, hospitality space.
HC: What was the overall brief/aesthetic for the whole space?
SG: We set out to deliver an interior experience that felt international, in this circumstance where the founders grew up in China so we imagined this interior being something you may discover in the middle of Hong Kong. Second to that the name The Nightcar which was established early on in the project opened up a world of planning and aesthetic influence as we dove into research of historic train carts and underground subway stations. From here we developed design ideas around the lavish travelling lifestyle, the intimacy and comfort of private settings, paired with the distressed and light-filled tone of a subway platform.
HC: What factors determined your choice of flooring?
SG: To deliver both a sense of comfort and acoustic dampening within a complete concrete building shell carpet suited our requirements perfectly. Given The Nightcar serves both food and beverage the commercial requirement for ongoing stain resistance was and cleanability imperative.
HC: How did Heritage Carpets assist the design team?
SG: Georgia and I worked back and forth with Heritage Carpets to achieve both the aesthetic and function we hoped for. The ability to pair two contrasting height carpet tile products in a checker lay delivered a unique underfoot feeling with a nostalgic cut pile approach.
HC: Why did you choose to work with Heritage Carpets?
SG: With a brilliant range of products and the willingness to go beyond and above to deliver products on time and In budget why wouldn’t we!
PRODUCTS USED
Cambridge& (& Collection) Colours 822, 316 – velvety cut pile tile from modulyss
https://modulyss.com/en-AUS/carpet-tiles/collections/cambridge%26
Gleam (Delight Collection) Colours 866, 346 – luxury cut pile carpet tile with gloss yarn in the mix, selected due to the luxe, longer, soft pile alongside the commercial warranty, from modulyss
https://modulyss.com/en-AUS/carpet-tiles/collections/gleam
Contact Heritage Carpets for support on your next project.
AWARDS
Shortlisted, Hospitality Design – Australian Interior Design Awards 2024
Shortlisted, Best Bar Design – Eat Drink Design Awards 2024
Bronze, Hospitality – Best Awards 2024
PROJECT INFORMATION
DESIGN FIRM: CTRL Space Auckland
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Sam Griffin
PHOTOGRAPHY: Jono Parker
Heritage Carpets is the exclusive distributor of modulyss in New Zealand.