Sliding Bar

Sliding Bar by johnny makita from netherlands

designer's own words:

Beck's Sliding Bar

The Beck's drinker knows what he wants. Nobody is going to dictate him. He likes to enjoy live and to make his own choices. He wants to get the best out of life.  The best that Beck's can do while creating a bar is adapting to the needs of its drinkers. So Beck's should create an environment that facilitates instead of an environment that dictates. This can only mean one thing: a bar that adapts to its customers.
They are leading!  

An idea that moves everybody and everything
We came up with the Sliding Bar. Dominant feature is of course (!) the Beck's beercounter. This counter is not fixed. It can be moved by the means of an hydraulic system. With the touch of a bartenderfinger, the counter can be moved back and forth.  The moving takes places in an almost non-perceivable way.  But the effect is amazing. With this system, the bar space and division of it can be different at any time of the day on any day of the week. Think of this: nobody likes to be in an almost empty bar. You want to feel part of a crowd.  What about a very dull Mondaynight. The bar will not be packed. But in this case by moving the counter forwards, it adapts the space to the amount of people inside.  Beck's offers it's customers then a more intimate space. And as people like to see a bar with a crowd, it will automatically attract more people. But that is no problem: as more people enter, the counter can be moved more backward, so that nobody will have the impression that the bar will get overcrowded. Another example: if Beck's wants to organize an art exhibition, the counter can be moved in such a way that behind it automatically the exhibition space is created.

Multi-usable platform
As you can see, on one side, we created a platform. It works as a rails for the sliding counter. But also as a catwalk for people heading for the space behind the counter (as well as the restrooms or other technical rooms that we situated there). Of course, it is also an ideal place to sit down and sip a Beck's. Or have a dance. Needless to say that this platform also can be used as an ideal place for displaying art, small concerts, giving presentations to an audience etcetera. Under the platform, we created space for storing furniture. It can be rolled in and out according to the needs. So the bar has its furniture always at hand in the most practical way.

Industrial, strong
In the Beck's bar, we do not try to hide anything. The design should be industrial. People are welcomed to see how the counter is made, and how it is moved.  So on the back we show the hydraulic system in all its grace

Concept

sliding_bar.2.jpg Bar View / Floor Plan

sliding_bar.3.jpg details