Lax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski

Lax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski - Image 6 of 31
© Ute Müller

Lax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski - Image 9 of 31Lax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski - Image 2 of 31Lax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski - Interior Photography, BathroomLax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski - Image 4 of 31Lax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski - More Images+ 26

  • Clients: Wiener Festwochen
  • City: Wien
  • Country: Austria
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Lax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski - Image 2 of 31
© Ute Müller

Text description provided by the architects. It all began when four artists from Austria and Germany at a Los Angeles artists’ residency decided to reconstruct Adolf Loos’ famous American Bar. Because they realized that the classic, elegant bar, a significant example of Austrian modernism, would fit perfectly into their backyard studio – just on a slightly smaller scale.

Lax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski - Image 28 of 31
© Ute Müller

With modest financial resources, mahogany became cardboard, glass became mosquito mesh, and rather than signature cocktails, everything was served simply “on the rocks”.

Lax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski - Brick
© Ute Müller
Lax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski - Image 22 of 31
© Ute Müller

Even in this DIY version, the Viennese charm of the iconic original asserted itself, and before long the LA art scene was drinking and sweating between the pressboard walls. Two years later, the bar was rebuilt in the basement of an art space in Brussels using only reeds to create the interior.

Lax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski - Image 31 of 31
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And now the suspiciously Loos-like façade of a former record store in Vienna’s 10th district generated the idea to resurrect the bar a third time. The LAX BAR is a walk-in art installation characterized by a methodical play wile and material. As a copy, it is deliberately flawed and visually alienated, while being geographically closer to the original than ever before.

Lax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski - Image 25 of 31
© Ute Müller

On some evenings, the LAX BAR is also a performative happening, with a series of artistic guest appearances. And when one Friday determines the one after, one thing is certain: it is also a pretty good bar.

Lax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski - Interior Photography, Brick
© Ute Müller

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Project location

Address:Laxenburger Str. 4, 1100 Wien, Austria

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Lax Bar / Christoph Meier + Ute Müller + Robert Schwarz + Lukas Stopczynski" 03 Sep 2019. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/924120/lax-bar-christoph-meier-plus-ute-muller-plus-robert-schwarz-plus-lukas-stopczynski> ISSN 0719-8884

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