February 2, 2022

Latest trend: Whiskey Bars in Luxury Hotels

Written by Chloe Thompson

IQ designing bespoke glazing for a whiskey bar in a luxury hotel.

Here at IQ, we offer a variety of glazing solutions that allow commercial buildings to seamlessly showcase the space and services they provide while simultaneously encapsulating the ambience and purpose. In a space like an old-style Whiskey bar, it's imperative to have systems that are reliable and slimline.

Glazing has become much more of a statement in modern industrial spaces with the rise of industrial style doors and internal glass partitions becoming more popular in hospitality venues. A huge advantage of internal glazing is the ability to create a better flow by connecting interior and exterior environments and allowing light to flow through the space. In hospitality especially, it's important to consider how glazing can be used as a tool rather than a decorative piece.

With building regulations evolving and updating, glazing can be used in new ways, including using doors as noise barriers or partitions between spaces or looking at interior fire-rated doors and glazing. With the latest advances in glazing technologies, fire-rated glazing can be designed to look no different to standard glazed doors.

The team at our Midlands regional office are currently working on a whiskey bar for a premium hotel, using structural glazing both horizontally and vertically. With an expanding industry of extra amenity hotels, it's important to ensure that both style and performance are considered. Structural glazing has the ability to add a sense of extravagance while being an excellent tool to bridge the gap between modern and traditional architectural elements.

Featured in the space is a complete glass roof, engineered with structural roof glazing which is supported with steel supporting beams, correlating with the floor to ceiling whisky storage shelving as well as the furniture choices.

The luxury hotel’s interior design features exposed brick walls, bronze and gold fixtures with classic wooden wall panels, all complemented by the traditional upholstered seating designed in soft hues. Bays of encased whisky are lined around the walls with natural light from the up and over glazing allowing light to shine directly onto the label, enforcing the warm and enchanting atmosphere of a whisky bar.

Structural roof glazing can be designed in a variety of different ways, with several options to choose from where additional structural support is required including steel beams or frameless glass fins.

By choosing to specify Invisio, our in house developed structural glazing system, issues with thermal bridging are eliminated and the design possibilities are endless. From fixed frameless rooflights to full structural glass roofs, the frameless glazing system is perfect for use in a range of project types.

Internally, MIRO internal glass doors would be ideal as they offer maximum transparency and allow light to pass through internal spaces, simultaneously offering configurations that many other apertures cannot achieve including bifolding and pivoting. MIRO doors also can match elements through the various finishes they offer, such as anodized, powder-coated or textured finishes.

Having the opportunity to create modern juxtaposition while maintaining the mystery and concept of a whiskey bar can be difficult, but with systems such as the Mondrian range, you gain the added value of sophisticated steel profiles which can be used to create a Bauhaus style.

These steel-framed glass extensions are designed and manufactured bespoke to each project to create a tailored design to the exact requirements and specifications for each project, with the style originating from the mid-1920s and early 1930s. This style became associated with Art Deco and Modernist movements; the premise was based around slim sightlines and simplistic appearances which are still relevant in modern architecture today.

Before specifying IQ for your hotel or whisky bar, speak to a member of the team about which products and systems are right for the project. We can help offer expert advice, assist throughout the specification stage and provide a full project management service.

Leave the glazing to IQ and know that your architectural glazing is in safe, expert hands. You can contact us at hello@iqprojectsuk.com or call the office on 01494722880.