Cosmopolitan ambiences

If it were a person, you’d say it has character. Located on Bari’s central Via Cavour, the Cavour 62 cocktail bar designed by architect Stefano Carlone and designer Vincenzo Berlingerio from K1 ArtStudio stands out for its highly expressive, eclectic and cosmopolitan aesthetics and sophisticated yet informal atmospheres. “The client’s very first request was for an industrial style. We took this concept as a starting point but reinterpreted it in an unconventional way, creating a space with strong scenic and decorative impact,” explains Carlone.

Situated inside a historic building, the venue’s small dimensions limited the potential for structural changes. “Instead, we chose to emphasise its key features: the striking verticality of the original space, with its vaulted ceiling and exposed Apulian stone, and the small mezzanine, which became a secluded and intimate retreat,” he continues.

Staying true to its spatial layout, Cavour 62 is divided into two main areas. The first, housing the bar, features a soaring cross-vaulted ceiling and tall, luminous windows that accentuate its verticality. The second, a mezzanine, introduces dynamic volumes and a cosy lounge space.

Inspired by New York-style aesthetics with tropical accents, the interior is characterised by bold colour choices and layered lighting, which alternates between accent lighting to highlight key areas and diffuse ambient illumination that enhances the entrance’s decorative appeal.

“Black is the common thread running through the space, often coordinated with deep green and the warm hues of the stone,” notes Carlone.

The cocktail bar features a green wood and metal counter, backed by bottle shelves interspersed with black metal-framed windows. The walkway leading to the service area is entirely black, as are the matte-finish sanitary fixtures and the ceiling in the elegant public bathroom. The intense black flooring in the entrance, main hall, service areas and bathroom plays a crucial role in defining the venue’s strong personality and ensuring visual continuity across the spaces, while the bathroom walls feature an elegant optical effect created using porcelain tiles from Marazzi’s Crogiolo Scenario collection.

“Ceramic tile is a fundamental element in our studio’s design philosophy. It allows us to shape ambiences, define pathways and organise functions – often simply by changing the size or colour of the tiles. In this project too, ceramic decorative elements help to create a sense of movement and enhance both the creative and functional impact of the space,” Carlone explains.

The Nero Tappeto 1 version tiles alternate plain-coloured bands and triangular motifs, enhancing the sense of spatial depth and helping to define functional pathways.

The mezzanine lounge is a design jewel dedicated to socialisation and furnished with custom-designed pieces, extra-large seating and small coffee tables. A bottle-green button-tufted sofa, combined with bistro tables and black metal chairs, references the industrial-chic aesthetic of the lower level, ensuring a cohesive design approach.