The concept behind MatchBox Reading, a new nightclub designed by 44th Hill, is based on the delineation of different areas in the nightclub. Using strong graphic elements carried from the branding, the studio established different ‘zones’. Designers wanted to create a large central section that would segregate the front lounge area and the dance floor, so it had a completely different feel to the rest of the club.
Taking influence from MatchBox’s branding the design studio used yellow throughout the space to create a ‘slice’ through the middle of the venue and a monochromatic colour scheme for the other areas.
Reclaimed floorboards, textural brickwork and raw concrete created a strong contrast to the bright, shiny surfaces and clean lines of the tiles, corrugated metal and steel. By mimicking materials used to clad the floors on the walls and ceilings 44th Hill essentially made a mirror image of the room.
The mixture of old and new continues with the lighting. 260 exposed lamps hang from the ceiling giving a modernist feel, whilst the seating areas are lit by antique Parisian street lights. A two metre wide neon sunburst stands encased in a steel mesh wall acting as a focal point and a divider to the stairs.
The staircase leads up to a large smoking area showcasing a mural by artist Remi Rough. A number of subtle elements from the mural have been mimicked through out the rest of the club – again with the brand colours, to bring back that clean, graphic edge to the otherwise weathered materials.
A number of sourced vintage stained glass windows have been integrated into the cladded walls, some with a single light source shining through from behind, giving a feeling of warmth and comfort in the seating areas.
Timber is used in the bespoke tables, as well as on the cladded walls, with each tabletop decorated with a modern twist on patchwork marquetry (inlaid wood) and the geomentis patters compliment the wall art.
Elements from the mural have been applied to the walls through out the rest of the venue, injecting a clean, graphic aesthetic to the rawness and texture of the wood, concrete and metal.
A small second bar and two VIP booths were built at the rear of the club, with the use of custom made mesh screens to divide these areas.
Images © 44th Hill
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