Awards:
2024 Honor Award, Interior Architecture: AIA Cincinnati Design Awards // King Pigeon
Description:
King Pigeon is the muse of a cocktail nerd – not a seasoned restaurateur or bartender. He had become known for making intricate craft cocktails out of his kitchen, using all manner of scratch ingredients. He wanted to bring his artistry to a broader audience, and Walnut Hills offered a neighborhood where he could be a pioneer.On a sleepy street in a primarily residential area, our mixologist saw an opportunity to offer a social space that could become a local staple. He speaks of the venue as an “anytime lantern”, a social watering hole open virtually around the clock and transforming from coffee shop to cocktail bar as day turns to night.
The design charge was to balance these twin programs and their respective identities while creating a cohesive atmosphere. It had to be upscale, intimate, and slick while maintaining a sense of humor and self awareness. It’s the loose, moody afterparty for VIP guests but it’s also the sun-soaked kitchen they stop by for coffee the morning after.
Boasting large storefront windows and high tin ceilings painted out in white and taupe, the space creates a gallery-like backdrop for discrete moments in what is essentially a single room. Bleached oak floors contribute to this figure ground relationship, allowing colorful points of interaction to punctuate the space. A natural oak perforated wainscot keeps eyes, and conversations, low. The overall strategy is not unlike a well worn outfit: a modern take on a classic look in neutral hues, with pops of color in the “jewelry” of the space.
Upon entering, guests are greeted by an unmistakable host stand adorned in a highly saturated graphic print. Adjacent to this focal point is a lounge area featuring mustard yellow side tables and custom velvet armchairs upholstered in King Pigeon’s signature cobalt blue, complemented by lush monstera plants that add a touch of greenery. A cognac leather channeled banquette encircles the remaining plan, its generous footprint peppered with tables for two — or one with a laptop.
In contrast to the vibrant elements of the space, the bar takes a more stoic tone with its marble top. As the surrounding space transforms over the course of the day, the bar is a persistent anchor, unchanging and assertive in its central location. Roasting and brewing equipment was carefully selected to create a relaxed experience uninhibited by bulky commercial taps and espresso machines. Bartenders mix cocktails in the round, while patrons get the sense that they’ve pulled a stool up to a friend’s kitchen island. Let’s stay a little longer as the party dies down.
