Lagranja Design recreates a sculptural beer machine at The Populist Bebek, the most acclaimed brewery in Istanbul

Lagranja Design was commissioned to design the second “The Populist” restaurant, located in Bebek, a sophisticated neighborhood of Istanbul. In the meantime, the first “The Populist” became one of the most frequented leisure facility of the Turkish Capital

Two years ago, Lagranja design studio in Barcelona undertook an ambitious project in Istanbul. The challenge consisted in the conversion of Turkey's first beer company into a modern brewery with an industrial overall look, inspired by the graphic language of the Prohibition period. The result was “The Populist”, located in the Bomonti area, restaurant acclaimed by “Time Out” as the best place to be in Istanbul.

Lagranja Design now completed the second restaurant for the same brand. This time, the project of the second “The Populist” had some distinct spatial characteristics that demanded new ideas and solutions, therefore it could not just adapt to the design. The new “The Populist” is located in the former space of a garden villa, in Bebek, a wealthy neighborhood on the Bosphorus strait.

A prodigious machine

If the studio aimed for an industrial atmosphere with exposed beer tanks for the first Populist, in this case, in order to fit the neighborhood, it was decided to create a more refined and dreamy look. Taking into consideration that the beer served in the restaurant is made in the first Populist, the design team was inspired to come up with a key element in the design: “The Beer Dream Machine”. The installation represents a ceiling mounted sculptural piece that serves as lighting and simulates the circuit of the beer fabrication.

This piece also implied the architectural intervention over the two floors of the brewery, as the second one was transformed into a balcony overlooking the main level. This detail managed to direct the complete attention to the machine, as it can be easily noticed from every corner of the establishment. Therefore, the sculpture becomes a complex machine and it almost feels alive, as the liquid is constantly flowing through the pipes and the lights are changing all throughout the day to create different atmospheres. At late hours they are dancing following the rhythm of the music playing in the brewery.

The “Bebek Stool”

“The Beer Dream Machine” is not the only bespoke furniture created for the “The Populist”. Therefore, another distinctive design is the stool called “Bebek”, which is described as “very expressive” by Gabriele Schiavon, designer and co-founder of Lagranja Design. The design, as Gabriele Schiavon explains, “is thought to be seen from behind, as the stools are always placed facing the bar, so this is why the emphasis is on the backrest“.

The stool will be included in Lagranja Collection, a brand that brings together collections and pieces of furniture designed and edited by Lagranja Design.

Source: Lagranja Design
Photos: Ali Bekman
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