The Local Vine is a new wine bar in Seattle’s vibrant Belltown neighborhood. Located in a prominent street level space, the wine bar features tall ceilings and an abundance of natural light. The client asked the architects to create a prototypical design for a series of warm, accessible urban spaces where patrons could learn about and savor wine. Each element of the composition could be reconfigured or reinterpreted at future Local Vine locations.
An inviting seventeen-foot-high wall of wine bottles directly opposite the main entry serves as a backdrop for wine tasters, while providing an elegant storage solution. Overhead an undulating Douglas fir ceiling draws patrons into the middle of the space and helps create intimate settings for conversation. The ceiling planes cleverly conceal an oversized mechanical unit that would have been costly to relocate or replace. A sleek, minimal fireplace opposite the bar has a raised hearth for casual seating. Glowing spherical lights softly illuminate the bar and fireplace, their playful shape easily visible to passersby outside.
The bar and built-in furnishings are custom designed of dark-stained plywood and blackened steel. Slotted plywood tables also designed by the architects complement a range of seating types from traditional bar and café to casual lounge seating. Wall colors chosen from a palette developed by the client range from bright red to deep burgundy and charcoal grey. Existing polished concrete floors were left exposed throughout. A small prep kitchen and new restrooms were added behind the bar.
The Local Vine’s clear delineation of spaces, modest palette of materials and refined detailing offer a sophisticated setting for patrons to appreciate and enjoy fine wine.
Project & Text by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
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