Located in Sydney, Trinity Bar’s new addition – a rooftop bar and bistro, designed by design studio Alexander & Co, is an upper level new addition to the current bar. The brief was “to create a rooftop bar and bistro which would benefit from the double height scale of the existing roof structure and engage with the streetscape. They required a separate entry from both an operational and brand utility, allowing it to be a stand-alone venue which can operate on its own hours, independent of the popular Trinity Bar below. Outside of that brief, the client was open to our creative lead”, – say Alexander&CO designers.
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Trinity Bar’s history dates back to the time of Tilly May, when notorious cut-throat gangs controlled the black market trade within Sydney.
“Tilly May’s captures the essence of the strong female characters who shaped the colourful underworld of Sydney in the late 1800’s. Referencing the architecture of that period, the bar has been conceived as a ‘grand room’ within what could be interpreted as a historic home.”
“Designers wanted to create the feeling of being in someone’s home.”
In order to gain more space for the bar, project involved the replanning and reconstruction of the internal bar area saving and reusing as much materials as possible. By opening the roof structure, the bar’s interior space changed dramatically and resulted in an airy, light-filled and open space. The use of robust and authentic materials as brickwork, marble, solid timbers, exposed structures gives the space a unique and authentic feel as if it was someone’s home.
“Amazing attention to detail results in a sensitive, authentic interior space.”
“The resulting bar is a loft style two story void; large, bright and open to the sky, with each smaller ‘living area’ connecting back to the main bar but also back to the central feature. The flanking rooms; private dining, lounge and bar areas, are composed of smaller vignettes, all upon a new marble chequer plate floor. The kitchen and small pass is cleverly concealed behind a discrete ‘bookshelf’ style joinery which does not impact the theatre of the surrounding living room setting” – designers say.
Amazing attention to detail results in a sensitive, authentic interior space. The careful use of tonal aged leathers, brushed spotted gum timbers, unique granite stones as every other material layer adds to a familiar, domestic tone.
Tilly May is one of the locations that shapes the emerging neighbourhood of Surry Hills. Interior design and architecture help adding value to the surrounding areas and attract visitors.
Project Name: Tilly May’s
Location: Upper Level of Trinity Bar, Devonshire Street, Surry Hills
Project Scope: Interior alteration and refurbishment of an existing heritage listed building
Principal Architect: Sophie Harris
Interior Design Team: Madison Fay, Larissa Orso, Tilly Bull
Date Of Completion: February 2019
Project Size: 180 sqm
Text: Aida Sniraite, Authentic Interior design blog
Photo credits: Alexander&CO archive
